In the Wake of Waves

by Prosthetic Forehead

Team Seven is Naruto's destiny, right? Wrong. A great tragedy occurs during their first mission in the Land of Waves, breaking the team apart forever. What's in store for an on-the-run Uzumaki Naruto?

3. Maturation

Chapter 3: Maturation

---

She stands with her arms crossed, clad in black and gray, long purple hair curling at the ends. Her dark brown eyes stare straight ahead into a cast-down face. Her body is propped against the wall behind her.

The Sandaime Hokage passes through a pair of great old doors, giving them both a nod as he disappears down the hall.

"So, ghoul-eyes." The tone is jesting, but barely, "How did it go?"

"Standard procedure is not to discuss ANBU mission detail with others unless in the presence of the Hokage or the ANBU commander, except under extenuating circumstances."

She sighs, slapping the wall behind her with the heel of her foot, "Uh huh." As if that has stopped them in the past - Tenzou is strict about protocol, but only when it tends to suit him, "Did you at least tell him that I told you we didn't have time to play teacher? Wait, sorry, schoolyard bully."

He doesn't flinch, "Yes, I made sure to inform him that the blame for everything can solely be placed on my shoulders. In retrospect, you were correct. But in the heat of the moment - " he stops, "Sorry. But if it makes you feel any better, I just got chewed out pretty hard." He manages a slithering of a smile, his lips thinning awkwardly. The woman looks away, blushing.

"Sorry."

"No, I should apologize. I know you can't help how you smile. And, I too am at fault... a little." She makes a small smile, "I let everything get to me as well. At the time, I suppose I agreed with you, at least a little bit."

He nods stiffly.

She salutes him, "I'm going to the hospital to make sure that crazy woman didn't fry something important. I'll see you at the meeting tomorrow." And she leaves him in a hurry.

The brown-haired jounin keeps his head straight. It's easy for him to fight away the shame, easy to rationalize why they had failed. He had been foolish to rile Naruto up like he had, but at least the Hokage had understood his reasons for it. He had agreed from his perspective, that the mission was nearly complete - even with the circumstances surrounding the rebellion in Ame, things had gone perfectly. It didn't change that it had been a sloppy mistake and it hadn't helped that his record had been almost spotless until now. Sarutobi was furious with him. If he had been any other man, Tenzou is sure he would have died in that meeting just moments ago.

He can understand it very well, of course. When the Kyuubi had attacked, Tenzou had been close to the front lines. Little better than the average genin, he still had skills unique and useful enough to warrant his presence in that suicidal battlefield.

The Yondaime Hokage was probably the greatest shinobi to ever live. That man wouldn't put his faith in just any newborn. Tenzou is certain that Uzumaki Naruto is more than just the jinchuuriki of the kyuubi. But even if he's wrong and that boy is not, the Yondaime has put his utmost trust in that young shinobi. And for him to forsake his duties to Konoha, even if his actions are understandable given his age and lack of experience - it's... well, not unforgiveable. But something close to that.

What Naruto needs is discipline and a solid grounding. He is an orphan. And while some misguided people might think orphans become responsible adults all on their own... if that does ever happen, it's an anomaly. Orphans that live on their own learn only the bare minimum to survive. They aren't taught how to properly behave in society and society itself is a poor teacher. Orphans, especially orphans intending to be shinobi, need mentors. If not parents, they need influential teachers that can penetrate the thickness that is a child's ego and wasteful capriciousness. Uzumaki Naruto needs someone like him to grow and change into the kind of person he's destined to be, as the Fourth's legacy. There is no more influential place to learn that than on the battlefield. No better person to fess up to shame and failure than with one of the faceless ANBU.

Indeed, it's how he became the person he is today.

Naruto is the kind of person who will only learn when he's beaten physically and mentally into submission. Yet, in one way, Yuugao is right. He can't deny that they could have taken him back to Konoha if they had simply reasoned with him from the very beginning. But that's not what he wanted. Naruto doesn't need coddling - he needs to be taught a lesson.

Those were his thoughts, at least. It's a shame they didn't pan out. But it shows how reckless Naruto is being, but allying himself with one of the Seven Swordsmen, a group known for their treachery, deceit, and bloodlust. But perhaps that isn't exactly his fault either, captor sympathy syndrome is something ANBU confront all the time.

Tenzou dives down into the depths of the Hokage tower, where it's cold and dark. He just wants to sulk for a while, it's not that easy to just walk away from defeat. He can still hear the screams from that abominable night; the voices reminding him he's still as hollow as when they emerged victorious from that battle.

---

Fingers rap against the table like raindrops. Set before a stony man is a shallow stage; three thin walls. In the distance, a backdrop of dark cloth. Before it, painted pastels merge into a watery image of a forest.

Those rhythmic fingers slacken.

The man is sitting cross-legged underneath the table, shoulders slumped.

He is alone in the room, save for two young women. They are dressed in peach robes, cloth hanging from their arms, giving more grace to their large movements. They dance slow, their humble dress letting the man's gaze wander at the subtleties of their movements.

"Magnificent steps." he says, his voice muffled and synthetic sounding. He is no longer watching the two women dance to an unheard song, "That is enough." He tells them, the women freezing in place. Their dark eyes meet his, fingers anxiously adjusting their long black hair.

"It was pleasing then, master?"

The lights are low outside the stage, illuminating muddy eyes.

"Yes. You pleased me. Though, I have questions. Your movements were well practised."

"Indeed, Amekage-sama. My sister and I," she gestures to the shorter woman beside her, "-have been practicing since before we could hardly run."

"Such commitment." He says, "It is very rare in even my shinobi. Your movements too, are incredibly fine; your steps finer, more measured, more elegant, than many kunoichi."

The shorter woman bows, offering a relieved curl of her lips, "You greatly honor us, Great Amekage-sama."

The man is rigid, "May I inquire into who taught you? Was it your parents?"

The sister share a glance, "No, my Lord." The taller one says, her sister completing for her next, "We were raised in an orphanage."

"Oh?"

"Um, yes, what sister says is correct. A circus was in constant contact with the orphanage we grew up in. They began to teach us at an early age, seeing talent in us. They knew we could find homes in the circus, if we could perform for them."

"How fortunate. Where is this orphanage?"

"Kaiu, my Lord."

"So you were both born in Kaiu?"

They share a glance, "Neither us knows the true answer to that, my Lord."

The shorter one speaks boldly, "May I inquire my Lord? Why are you interested in us so?"

"You may not inquire." He says simply, "Tell me. You were raised as dancers your whole life. You have shown great spirit as entertainers. Yet, here you are before me, humble and obedient. What passion drives you to dance as you do? To seek out such a central position to the great show I will be hosting?"

There's a nervous smile on both of their faces, "I do not know if I would have chosen it if the circumstances were different my Lord, but I do enjoy entertaining others so."

"As do I, my Lord."

"I apologize for a less than forthcoming answer, but to ask me why I dance, is to ask why fish swim, my Lord."

"It is the same for me."

"How peculiar." The man nods calmly, "Very well. My curiosity is sated. Thank you. You two will be the stars of the show. You will be performing for Amagegakure's illustrious guests."

"T-Thank you for this grand opportunity, Amekage-sama."

The man rises, "You are dismissed."

In the back of the room, the thin shouji doors slide open, almost like they have a mind of their own. The girls bow respectfully and leave hurriedly.

When the doors swipe shut, the blond turns to look toward the shadows behind the stage, "Interrogate them after they have eaten. I don't care what is done with them afterward. Whether there is sufficient evidence you can dredge up from them or not, send a team to Kaiu. Eradicate the carnival and the orphanage. I expect a full report on as many orphans and performers discovered, as possible."

There isn't a reply.

"Send in the next dancers. I do hope these ones are not spies as well, I am beginning to grow bored with these pathetic attempts on my life and my country."

---

"You're a rare young man."

There's a laugh in his dry throat, "Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"

They're standing underneath the trees, hiding from the rain. Hiding from them.

All around for all he can see through his copied mask is thick growth. Trees stretch tall, rain slithering down. One particular tree is large enough that they can hide in its spanning branches, escaping the rain.

They're standing atop one of the branches, fairly high up.

An old woman, one who barely weighs anything, sits in his lap. She has thin white hair and a face as gentle-looking as Haku's. For a while, she just let the song of the rain fill their ears. But now that they're reasonably safe, she speaks in a soft rasp.

"You act a lot like my grandson."

"So you're saying your grandson is weird?"

"In a way." She hums, "It's better to say he was weird."

"Oh." He swallows, "I'm sorry to hear that."

"No worries. He's not dead. Just gone. Distant. They took him away and I haven't seen him since."

"They?"

She nods, "I'd rather not talk about it. But I'm sure he's fine, wherever he is."

"How would you know he's not weird then? If you haven't seen him?"

She leans back into him, looking up into his mask with watery eyes of galena, "He was thoughtful, you know. He's the kind of person who would have risked himself to carry an old woman from a crowd of desperate strangers."

He doesn't reply.

"I should have just waited at home. But my heart was still quick. I suppose I'm a little younger than I've been feeling, as of late. I actually ran, you know. Moved faster than some of the youngin's."

"I think I noticed. It was why I reached out and grabbed you."

"You should've snatched somebody else. There were a lot of kids, you know."

He looks down from the branch, gazing at the forest floor.

"It doesn't work like that. People like you and Hotaru-Obaa-chan - they deserve to live too."

She shakes her head, "See? You're an odd one. An odd child. But it's not bad, that's not what I'm saying. I'm just surprised is all. You're not from here, are you?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

"You wear a familiar coat. Yet the mask is one I am not familiar with. But it is not that or your blonde hair that makes you stick out. In Rain, it's youth. Strength. That's what's valued. The old are... forgotten. Sometimes looked out for, but there's little use for someone who is past their prime."

"I see."

The old woman is dressed in an oversized green kimono. He feels her body shifting inside it. She slips a little in his grip, Anxious at the possibility of dropping her to her demise, he holds her tighter around the waist.

"How long will we sit up here? Is it truly that bad?"

"Y-Yes. This technique, it's called kage bunshin. It allows Boss to make as many copies as he wants. And we can persist far away n' all, but we don't get much that chakra to work with when we're created, though it's way more than most people are used to, we're pretty wasteful. And no matter how much he gives us anyway, we disappear if he take a single solid hit. Because of this, and because memories are shared among destroyed clones, I know for a fact that... Hanzou has dispatched hunters. Despite what Hotaru-Obaa-chan said, they seem mad. They've already gotten... three of the people-" he stops, "Sorry. Four."

She nods, her hands arranging her dripping white hair, plucking strands from her mottled brown face.

"I'll do my best to protect you, lady. I have enough chakra that I can get you to a shelter - a town they probably won't look for you. It's a two day's run. It'll be hard, but I think I can make it if I pace myself. It will be close, but I'll get you as close as I can. Nah, better than that, actually."

She nods, "I wish our ninja were as brave and as swift as you, child."

"Heh. I'm just a genin. A pretty lousy one at that. Though, I guess I'm getting better. Hopefully Boss got away from the people that were after him."

A strong wind works through the trees, sweeping and swerving, it makes the fat, gluttonous leaves bend low.

"Can I hear the name of my saviour?"

"Huh? Oh." He thinks, face scrunching under the porcelain hunter mask, "Well, I admit it's tempting." Naruto says with faint pride, "I used to seek attention. But now that I'm a missing-nin, I've gotta stay on the down-low. I do have a cover name though. You can call me Hiei-san, if you want."

She chuckles, "If I have anymore grandchildren, I'll be sure to have it named after you."

Naruto laughs softly, "Is that how it's done in Rain? The grandparents name the grandchildren?"

"It used to be the case, yes. When my grandparents were around."

"I see. Was that before Hanzou took over then?"

"Yes. It has been a long time, hasn't it?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm barely not a kid anymore." He shakes his head, "Ameyuri-sensei still calls me a kid."

"It's fine to be a child."

"Nah, kids can't do important things. I think there are lots of things I want to do now. Things I need to get done. I was a kid long enough. I need to decide something big- I was thinking- well-" he laughs, "It's not worth explaining to you right now. Too complicated."

She shakes her head, "The youth of this country abandon their childhood too early. You should cling to it while you can."

Naruto nods, but he doesn't really listen. He's focused, the constant sound of the rain is making him nervous. It's hard to hear the sounds of enemies. That's how the last four- no. Five. Five now. Five rescue clones are gone. Mercifully, he didn't get to see what happened to those he was protecting, but it's obvious... they will probably die. Four of the clones were killed assassination-style, he didn't even see it coming.

"Do you know about Akatsuki?"

"Who?"

"Nevermind. Forget I asked."

She nods.

"Hanzou." He says after a moment, "Is there anything you can tell me? I'm new to this country. And I'm still trying to figure it all out."

"There isn't much to say." She sighs, "He makes it that way, of course. Whatever anyone knows about him, nobody says. He is a dictator. And when he first rose to power, I remember... the purges." She looks away, "I'm sorry. I can't really help you. He is a terrible man. The most positive thing I can say - is we are stable because of him. Trade continues. Crime isn't- I mean, if you stay inside the walls and stay indoors past supper, you're safe. Not that people enjoy the price of his safety. Not that I haven't lost friends to pointless violence, cruelty and greed, but... it could be worse."

Naruto nods, "What about your ninja?"

"I'm afraid I don't know much. Just that I don't see them often. They stay out of sight, even when they want to look imposing. The only ninja I've seen are the young ones - the children. I don't understand it, but they're always in the open. Always friendly. Well, not always. They do horrible things, sometimes." She sighs, "It's just they often do it with a friendly smile."

"I understand. Let's drop it all for now. You've endured a lot. You should just rest. I'm going to be keeping you awake for days, carrying you. Conserve your strength, Obaa-chan."

She does.

"Actually, before that, I was wondering. Could you tell me about the wildlife in Ame? I'm going to need to avoid them while I carry you."

"The wildlife? I don't know that much. I've lived in my village my whole life." She hums softly, "Though I've gone on a few trips. I suppose there's a little to talk about. There are many kinds of monkies and birds. I don't really know many of their names, though Ame has many legends and I'm sure I've seen almost all of them before. Birds with feathers of the rainbow. Monkies with long beards and noodle-like legs. There aren't many snakes in Ame, it's said the Shodai Amekage scared them into the neighboring countries almost a century ago." She chuckles, "I've seen a number of garden snakes though. So it's not completely true."

"Are there... foxes?"

"I've seen some. Though they stay close to the village. I don't think they can survive deep in the wilds. There are many kinds of tigers that stalk the forest. It usually makes travelling very dangerous. But I suppose not if you're a shinobi. I wasn't aware your kind could walk up trees."

Naruto chuckles at her dry tone.

"There are many kinds of insects, of course. Perhaps the most cherished is the butterfly."

"Yeah?"

She nods, "Yes. There is a particularly old legend of that. It is said that when the Great Sage's spirit left this earth, his last resting place was in Ame. And that when he passed, his body blew apart into a thousand butterflies, scattering with the wind like dust and sand."

"The Great Sage, huh?"

"Yes, I don't know much about that legend, I'm afraid. But I've always found the image... beautiful."

"I guess so."

She nods, "My sister used to keep caterpillars as pets, when we grew up. It was lovely watching them grow into such majestic creatures. It's a shame Ame won't have such a pretty future ahead of it. All our cocoons are rotten."

Naruto nods quietly.

"When I go." She says, "I'd like it to be like that. Scattered like sand. Better butterflies, but I know I'm not that special."

When night falls, of the one hundred and seventeen solo-clones that escaped Gama, only thirty-four remain.

---

The room still. Outside, he can hear rain. But inside the room, it's just still. So unlike the last few days. The last few weeks. It's hard to process it all. Hard to come to grips with everything.

"How did you sleep?" Haku asks.

The older teen wears new clothes. About his narrow frame winds a green kimono, a tight black sash binding it to his slim waist. The collar is stiff against his neck, a gentle pattern of yellow flowers over it. On the bed, his dark raincoat lies. The sleeve that had been cut now sports an uneven patch of black fabric, thick black stitches binding it in place.

Naruto sits on the edge of his small, yet extremely comfy gray bed, his feet dangling over the edge. He is dressed in a plain dark blue kimono, dark fishnet reaching out from the cuffs of its sleeves and the overlaying at its lapels. He feels like he's floating, just staring blankly ahead, his nerves buzzing with a recently completed full eight hours of rest.

Haku squeezes his dark bangs with his fingers, a little water dripping free. He tidies his hair with a fine comb, making it smooth and silky-looking.

"So-so. I feel rested, but..." he grimaces, "Kage bunshin are annoying. I dealt with a lot of memories." He looks away, "Not many of the people I rescued actually made it anywhere useful."

"I'm sorry to hear that." He swallows, his voice unwavering despite the thickness in his tone, "But you tried your very best Naruto. Better than even me. Don't hold yourself to an impossible standard. Be glad that you saved the lives of some people. They would not have made it without you."

He smiles dimly, "Yeah. I guess." That smile withers as his hands clench the soft fabric of the sheets, "But I'm not good enough. We- we should have lost back there. You should have died. If it weren't for Ringo-sensei, I would have cost you everything."

Haku nods, "We'll prepare. It won't happen again. That much is obvious, ne?" He grins as Naruto manages a pleasant curl of his lips. Haku plants his butt on the end of his bed, breathing deep, "We have four days here in Kaiu, until we must meet our contact."

"Yeah."

"We should investigate the brothel we will meet him at."

"Yeah."

Haku's thin brows burrow into bunching skin. He studies the faraway look in Naruto's eyes.

"Perhaps we should find you a suitable escort as well, Naruto-san. You should unwind in the arms of a caring young woman."

"Yeah."

Haku's expression flattens. He taps the top of his bed. Three... two... one...

"W-Wait?! What! No! What are you talking about?"

There's a soft laugh, "I was just kidding."

"Y-You better be dattebayo! That's disgusting!" he sputters.

"What, sex?"

"No! Prostitutes." He shivers, "Sex is perverted n' all but it's not nearly as bad as, I mean... I'd never... I mean... what would Sakura-chan think?" he shakes his head like a wet dog, killing his furious blush.

Haku shakes his head in disbelief, "I suppose. Though, I'm not sure what you find disgusting about women who offer their bodies as comfort. Many of them are truly more noble than most nobility I have met."

"It's just, wrong."

"I'm afraid I don't understand. There is nothing wrong about it."

"Just... nevermind." He sighs, "I guess I don't really have a reason. But it's not like I never saw the brothels in Konoha. The women there didn't especially like me, but the way some of them behaved, I don't know, it just felt foul watching them."

Haku nods slowly, "Perhaps I should simply survey the brothel then? I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"Yeah. I think I don't have the muscle to handle it right now. I'll probably just blow our cover."

"That sounds wise. You should just explore this town for now. Zabuza-sama and I visited many such establishments together."

Another comfortable silence settles over them. Strangely, all yesterday was just - it was like bliss. He had pushed away all those thoughts and feelings. All the craziness of before. They had found a large road and encountered many travellers, asking for directions to Kaiu. They met a merchant and purchased some new clothes to help strengthen their disguise, Haku depositing his mask into the scroll.

Kaiu offered little in the way of gate control. People just came and went. So it was easy to just walk inside. Easy to find a cheap inn with some of the excess medicine Haku had bartered away. They had plopped down for the night, reflecting. Haku had shared some stories about his travels with Zabuza, one of the first times the man had gotten dangerously drunk.

He wasn't abusive. Zabuza had a strange way of handling inebriation and the ensuing head-throbbings. He loved to train while intoxicated. It was how Haku had learned so quickly, how he had learned to survive. The "demon" of the mist held nothing back while he was under the influence. And his attacks were just sluggish and imprecise enough while drunk to give Haku enough room to survive... His loose lips told much about his fury for Kirigakure no Sato.

Naruto could now tell, with the way Haku spoke of his former master, how deeply he had loved him. Although he probably would never understand love, or family, or fatherhood, the only analogy that made sense to him was that Zabuza had been his real father.

And now he feels like shit for taking that away. Why couldn't he just accept it that Haku had forgiven him weeks ago? He couldn't let this eat away at him forever. They had acted like it wasn't a big deal, so far. And maybe, maybe it truly wasn't. Maybe he could finally just let it go?

Maybe, maybe it's the fact he can't get the Uchiha's words out of his own mind. His father; the Hokage of Konoha. He was stunned. Exhausted. Too brain-dead to even understand what that meant. And now, now that it he has time to let it settle, all he can feel is anger. So much anger that it leaves him in a daze. Just moments ago, he didn't even hear Haku speaking to him.

"You know, I don't get it." Naruto says, staring up at the ceiling, "I'm the son of the Yondaime."

"Do you really believe what he told you?"

"Yeah. I do. I really do. I mean, I've seen pictures. The Yondaime had hair just like mine. And it only makes sense he'd seal the Kyuubi into his own son. How could he sacrifice anybody else's kid? Everyone must had suspected who I really was, but why didn't they just say anything?"

"It does make sense. But it still could be a trick. Or perhaps, those people wanted to deny the truth. They didn't want to believe who you really were. Perhaps their hatred runs deep."

"Maybe. But- argh!" He punches the bed flimsily, feeling the mattress ripple under him, "It's so stupid. I'm the son of a goddamn hero. One of the greatest heroes in Konoha. And nobody- nobody knew? Nobody cared about me! Well, besides Iruka-sensei and Sandaime-jiji. And Ayame-chan and-" he shakes his head, "Okay, so a few people cared. But my point is, what if they had known? From the beginning, I mean. Would everyone had just loved me then? Was that all I needed to do? Was just figure that out? Prove to them all I was the son of the Yondaime? I could have lived a normal life then, maybe. Kind of like Sasuke. The best thing is, I wouldn't have been a giant prick, either."

Haku nods, "So you're frustrated?"

"I guess. I don't know. Maybe I'm just - more confused than anything. Why did he leave me? And what about my mom? Did she just roll over and die fighting the Kyuubi? I don't really get it. It's like I was born with really bad luck."

"Perhaps it is destiny? Fate?"

"Like I believe in that crap."

Haku shrugs, "Now that you know, what will you do? If you are truly the son of the fourth Hokage, then you could probably go back to Konoha. You could probably demand from your Hokage that it be revealed to all. And you could probably still be seen as a hero. Just like what you've desired, correct? I know you don't like being looked down upon. They wouldn't be able to deny you whatever you desire, given what you have gone through."

Naruto blinks, his eyes settling down, sinking into Haku's gentle brown gaze.

"You're right. I could probably do that. The Old Man couldn't say no to me if I did that. And I look a lot like the Yondaime, so people would probably have to buy it too." He grins wide with his cheeks, "I can see it now - Uzumaki Naruto parading around in the streets, with a procession of fangirls. And I'd sit down at Ichiraku's, ya know? And I'd say to the old man, Yo, get me thirty bowls of ramen for the fans. And he'd be like, Sure thing heroic son of the Yondaime, it's on the house!, and then all the girls would scream and they'd squeeze into all the seats, and some of them would be dressed up like maids, ya know with the tall black socks and white aprons and stuff. A few of them would kiss my feet, but I'd tell them, No no ladies, don't lower yourself. We're all equals here. After we eat, how about I teach you all some of the things I learned while being a nuke-nin! And then they'd go, Kyyaaaa Naruto-sama!." The blond starts cracking up, laughing hysterically.

Haku nods, those lips pressing inward, making them seem very small.

"Ch, what's with that look? You think I'm gonna do something stupid like that?" Naruto likes the way Haku's cheeks puff up playfully, "If anything, I've only learned that recognition is stupid. If people would stop hating me over something like that, then they aren't worth it. It's not like I hate the people of Konoha or anything, even after they've done so much stupid shit, but I don't need them."

"Besides, it's... kind of like Saiken said to us, remember? I could have been born a Daimyo. Or a noble. You could have been born without your bloodline or in a Mist that didn't have a civil war. But you'd still be you. You'd still be as great as you are today. 'Cause you work hard. And I don't need to be the son of someone special to..." he hums, uncertain for a moment, "Well, do what I want to do."

He smiles wider, as if realizing something so obvious, so simple, "Besides, how could I just walk away from this? How could I just say goodbye to you?" he grins hugely now, his rows of teeth clenched tight into a nefarious, foxy pinch, "How could I sit all the way back in Konoha, pretending to be somebody great because of my parents, knowing that a guy like Hanzou sits in some stupid castle, killing hundreds of the people he's supposed to be protecting without even thinking about it. It's disgusting. I'd feel like a stupid idiot, a true dobe, a petty coward, if I just walked away from all this, I'd just be running away like I did in Wave."

Naruto likes the way those eyes blink in muted surprise.

"Naruto, you can't just- I mean, do you realize what you just implied?" he looks around the room, "Keep your voice down at least."

"Hah. I guess I should huh? At least for now I will, until I know I can take his stupid shinobi."

"Naruto, are you listening to yourself? You sound a little unhinged." He chuckles wryly, "You can't seriously be considering-"

"I am. And you're gonna help too. And so what if I'm 'unhinged'. We're nuke-nin. Isn't that what we're supposed to be like?"

"I guess that goes without saying."

"Yep. But we need to find a third guy first. You know? Like the stories."

"The stories?"

"Yeah. You know? Ameyuri-sensei told us, how could you forget? The Sannin. The Sannin came to Rain over thirty years ago. And they kicked Hanzou's ass."

"I'm pretty sure he kicked their asses and let them go."

"Yeah well, he's thirty years older now." The blond waves his hand dismissively, "And we'll just get better than they were. But first, we need to find a third guy."

"As if that's all we need to do."

"Hey, we've got four days. We can train a bit. Well, I can. You should keep resting your arm. How is it?" He shifts the conversation, still wearing a confident smile.

"Good enough, so long as you don't provoke S-ranked, Kage-level ninja, Naruto-san."

"Great. Hey, could you pass me my flute? I wanna play for a bit. Helps me clear my mind. I need to figure out who we're gonna get as the third guy."

Haku reaches into his coat, pulling out a sealing scroll. He removes the gilded flute and leans forward, passing it to Naruto.

"I thought you were going to concentrate? Haven't you relaxed enough for today?" he shakes his head, "If you're so intent on- suggesting that we take on the Amekage of all people- you should at least put a little more thought into it."

"Hm, yeah? I guess. But I don't want to get rusty on that song. And it should help me think anyway."

Naruto lifts his arms up and presses the cold metal to his lips. He plays the flute softly, using very little breath. Despite that, strong breezes whip at Haku's green clothes, making them ruffle, wrinkle and bend like a field of grass; currents swirling around the room, causing ocean waves in the dim sheets.

"Watch your chakra control. You seem a little energetic." He stands from the bed, "I'm going to go out and do as I said. Can I trust you on your own? I'm being serious."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he chuckles, setting the flute down, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"I will return here to the inn when I am done. I will wait for you. But if you don't come before dinner, I will go out and look for you."

He nods, "I'll be back before then. Believe it."

Haku nods, "Just don't challenge anyone to a fight while I'm gone." He closes the door behind him, leaving Naruto to himself.

The blond's grin droops. His pushed-away concerns return, but he's able to sweep them underneath a mask of ignorance. All he can see is the narrow tunnel before him. He will become strong. If Ame desires to change, Uzumaki Naruto will be the one to bring it, with all of his muscle.

---

"Look at this."

The Konoha jounin lounge is an exclusive little hole in the wall near the north side of the village. It's a black square building that's built into a deep gash in the earth. Buried lower than the surrounding landscape, the air is cool, even as a sudden spring heat wave assaults Konoha's air, making it stifling compared to the recently passed, frigid winter.

So, it's a good escape. Or, it should be, only, it's also where everyone tends to gravitate to; most jounin being (unlike their chuunin juniors) unable to comfortably relax in seedier, more abundant bars, brothels and lounges. Since many shinobi are antisocial to a degree, it's not the preferred resting spot for many, paradoxically. Most ninja want to get away from their insane colleagues. Except in situations where the village gets very crowded or very hot, the jounin lounge is often empty.

Today is obviously not one of those days, where nearly every seat or spot against the wall is occupied by somebody and their lover.

The large two-story building is equipped with a full bar and tap. Every jounin gets an allowance of free alcohol while off-duty, per week. Glossy black stools stand against black marble and a cool air naturally circulates from deep in the ground.

The floor beneath those stools is as old as Konoha, black wood as sturdy as when the Shodai Hokage wrenched it up from the earth. Black leather couches sit in several choked clusters, many jounin lazing around on them, their bodies slackened in blissful relaxation, empty beer cans on, underneath, or on the floor beside their prone person.

Unfortunately for everyone relaxing in the jazzy, packed alcove, in one corner of the chatty room, Maito Gai has just received startling news from a visiting Hokage.

"H-Hokage-sama!" Gai shouts, his fists trembling as he looks at a scroll in his grasp, "This is- what is this!"

"Settle down Gai-san." the Sandaime says warily, "Settle down now." He does chuckle when a few groans fill the room, tired, sweating shinobi lifting their heads up from couches and the bar counter, their heads throbbing.

"This is... why are you giving this to me?"

"I wanted your personal thoughts on the matter." The Hokage says in his official robes, sans his hat. The bearded man speaks in a gravelly creak, his arms rolled over his chest, "I have a few thoughts on how to proceed with this." His smoldering eyes burn into Gai's, as the spandex-clad jounin lowers the scroll form his face.

"I have never heard of Ame offering to host a Chuunin Exam. Nevermind one which won't even be sanctioned by the five great nations!" He yells.

"It has not happened since old Hanzou took office, you are correct on that historical fact."

Gai shakes his head, "I still don't get it. You want my personal opinion, on what exactly?"

"I want your opinion. What teams should I send?"

It's now that all the lounging jounin go cold. Many slyly twist their focus over toward the two men off to the side instead of doing their best to ignore them. It's hard to tune out the presence of a Kage in a room meant for relaxation, no matter how much everyone wants to unwind. But given what's suddenly going on, it's too serious to push away.

"You are actually considering it? Ame is extremely dangerous."

"I have my reasons."

"Is it about..."

He smiles, "It is about a certain legacy, yes."

"I see." He pauses, "I am not that familiar with all the current genin teams, you might wish to speak with Umino-san. He has a sharp memory and a youthful heart. I would suggest you seek his opinion. Not mine."

Hiruzen nods, "What about your team?"

There's a dark stillness in the air. Yuuhi Kurenai and Saruobi Asuma share a glance across each other from opposite sides of the room. The man gets up, putting out a cigarette.

"It would be excessively dangerous." Gai admits, "But if you order it, the possibility of success exists. They are youthful enough to handle the challenge! Provided they have some support, of course."

"You would not go alone, that is for sure." Sarutobi says idly, "I have one other team in mind. But this isn't an order Gai. That's why I'm here and you're not in my office."

"I understand. Respectfully, I will talk with my team about this. It is up to them, more than me!"

"Very well, come by my office tomorrow with your decision." Sarutobi peeks his head over Gai's, addressing the rest of the room in a low, yet commanding voice, "If anyone in this room thinks their team is capable and willing to rise to the challenge, I extend that offer. If you believe in the possibility of their success and survival, I would believe it be a profound experience." Saruobi pauses, "I would also consider it a personal favor and an A-rank mission for you and your genin."

Hiruzen walks past Gai and drops a stack of paper flyers on a vacant space on the glassy bar counter. Without another word, the man walks out, disappearing as an ornate obsidian door swings shut.

The room is cold and silent for a breath. Gai is trembling again, wearing a bright smile, "Hokage-sama is burning brightly with the flames of youth! He's like a great big volcano! Yahoo!" The man bursts into a frenetic run, sprinting out the door, "I must see my cute students, immediately!" His voice fades into the distance. Gekkou Hayate peeks out the front door, watching the man fade into the distance.

Everything settles back into a quiet lull, though a few jounin chat among themselves, gossipping, "That was certainly odd. Was it wise for Hokage-sama to openly talk about something like that?"

Yuuhi Kurenai just smiles, looking over her shoulder at a drunken, shit-faced Mitarashi Anko, "Gai's spirits are lifted, at least. That was nice of Sarutobi-sama."

"A depressed Gai is much better than an energetic one, Nai-chan." Anko slurs, clutching her head.

"Ne, are you going to nominate your adorable apprentice?" she teases.

"Are you nuts? Kid's got a little spunk in her, but I ain't sending her to her doom."

She chuckles, "She's been working well with my team, you know."

"Would you send your kittens to Ame, girl? Even with pinky?"

She hums, "Probably not. They aren't ready for something quite as challenging."

Both women turn to meet Asuma, who stands with his hands in his pockets, looking as gruff as ever with a friendly scowl, "Don't coddle em' Yuuhi-chan." His lips twist into a smile as his woman glowers, snapping around, twirling in her stool.

"I don't coddle them." She whines, "Besides, you aren't seriously considering what Hokage-sama just said? I can understand Gai-san, his team has been working together for over a year now. They do have a lot of experience, but Teams Eight and Ten have only gone on one C-ranked mission. And you know what happened to Team Seven already! It's almost shocking Hokage-sama would even suggest something so reckless."

"Life's about risks." Asuma says blandly, "As terrible as it is what we've lost, we can't be paralyzed. Kakashi wasn't ready to take on a genin team, as much as I hate to slander him. This is different."

Kurenai's cheeks puff out, arms rolling over her breasts, "Hokage-sama is being irresponsible. And why did he call it a personal favor. What does he mean by that?" she shakes his head, "Life is about risks, but it's about taking intelligent risks. There's nothing gained by playing into the games of a malevolent dictator."

"My father seems to think so." Asuma grunts, "Not that I feel like I owe him the lives of my team, but they do need a wake up call soon or they'll end up just like Team Seven. Losing Naruto and Kakashi didn't faze them one bit."

Kurenai is quiet at that.

Asuma reaches out beside the dark-haired woman and snatches up a flyer, "I'm going to think about it, talk to them at least. It's a good mental exercise. Do you take the mission? Or do you refuse it? What are the consequences of that? It's a huge ripple, to send one team or not on an assignment. It makes waves through time and the future of this village. It could change the lives of many people, forever." The jounin states sagely, "There's no harm in considering it and talking to your team about it. They will eventually take the exam and there's no guarantee it will be here in the village."

"I suppose so." The woman admits, her voice as rough as her lover's for a beat, "What do you think, Anko-chan?"

The woman's head is rocking back and forth on the flat face of the counter, "I dunno." She groans, "Sounds like suicide to me." She giggles, "And suicidal missions are always fun." She sits up suddenly, as if having an epiphany. She reaches over Kurenai, hand pressing into the woman's tightly-wrapped breasts in psuedo-clumsiness, earning a snort from the jounin, and pulls back with one of the information sheets, "I'm gonna consider it too. Maybe me 'n pinky will just go in as a solo team. I could teach her some crazy shit." She cackles, "Oh, it could be fun. Ame is soo dangerous. She'd learn a lot if she makes it through."

"Anko! Don't talk about your student like you can just toss her around."

"Eh, but I can." She shrugs, slurping down more alochol. She burbs, "She's my pretty little pink hime. I want to spoil her."

Kurenai shakes her head, "Well, my Hinata isn't ready."

"Shino is." Asuma chides.

"Kiba isn't." She bites back.

Asuma hums, "Maybe." He nods to her, "Well, why don't you show up with me tomorrow? Even if we decide not to send our teams, I'd like to hear the details of the mission. It sounds like Dad is up to something, I haven't seen his eyes burn like that since before the Kyuubi took away Mom."

"Whatever." The genjutsu mistress takes a shot of a molten clear liquid, letting out a sigh as she slams it down, her throat throbbing in response, "But you two are irresponsible if you say yes."

"What's new?" Anko retorts dryly.

---

"Kandachi-sama."

The man has muddy flesh and tall grassy brown hair. Splotches of cement-hued flesh blot his body, a large portion of his forehead a greasy gray. His narrow shoulders taper to a lithe torso. He wears a sleeveless green jounin vest and tight gray pants. He looks completely unremarkable, with average-looking muscular development and simple, unassuming brown eyes.

Before him are three young shinobi dressed in rebreathers and pale yellow jumpsuits that are stiched tightly around their bodies, gray bandages wrapped over their eyes.

"Did you complete your assignment?" Kandachi asks, facing them. They are in a dark wet hall, where there is no light, save for several small bulbs that glow from the ceiling, illuminating tiny spots along a catwalk, water rushing underneath it.

"In a way." One hedges, their voice muffled by the rebreather, "We poisoned the water supply, as you requested. However, some grew wise on the third day. The children were instructed to go fetch water from another source."

"Hmm. Did they not ingest any of it?"

"Not enough for any of the symptoms to show themselves."

"How unfortunate. I was looking forward to seeing their development... I suppose they are disposed with?"

"Yes, Kandachi-sama."

He sighs, "Good work, I suppose. It can't be helped." He waves his hand, "I'll have the money deposited tonight. In the mean time, Hanzou-sama likely has use for you. Go to him."

They merge with the darkness.

Kandachi's stiff nose flares in annoynace. He twists his toes into the metal grating, "Useless trash." He mutters, "Can't even get the mutagens to the most volatile subjects." He stomps off down the hall, turning right, then right again, before coming up to a large, dark room.

In the distance, rushing water echoes. Stagnant water drips from pipes.

A young girl sits in a wooden chair, her body bound at every orfice and joint, her eyes pulled apart with clips and wires. Her expression is slack, body completely still.

"How fortunate. Did you finally get tired of screaming? I didn't even notice." He approaches her completely relaxed body and reaches out, fingers feeling silky, mint-green hair, "Do you think you want to try again now? Hanzou-sama has given me a strict deadline you know. I cannot exactly waste my time with you. Besides, I'm a busy man. You understand, don't you? Good! So, I'll start it up again, and this time, you're going to sit perfectly still like a good girl."

She whimpers.

"Oh, don't be like that." He strokes her hair, but stops suddenly, when she begins to scream again.

Her voice is terrible, echoing through the large dome-shaped chamber. Her vocal chords are heavily damaged, so the sound screeches and tears in all the wrong ways.

"Feh. I imagine that beast is repairing your ability to scream every time you wear it out. We'll have to fix that. It is giving me a splitting headache, you know?"

---

The streets of Kaiu are paved much better than in Gama. Though, it must be a logistical nightmare to deal with the constant rain. Water is destructive as it flows, wearing down any stone, rusting any metal. It's why all the buildings in Kaiu sport an advanced sewer and gutter system. Made of easily replaceable bamboo, all the buildings of Kaiu are lined with the bright wood, water running down off rooftops and carried by hollow shoots down the sides of buildings, connecting directly to metalltic grates in the streets, which are always gushing with dark-hued rain.

Because of all the logging and processing industries in Kaiu, the rain is very acidic, compounding the problems even normal rain brings. Black smoke and ash rise up from morbid chimneys of brick that stand like timeless dark gods, dying the color of the rain that perpetually comes down in the large town. It's why the town is named as such; when it was founded, drifting clouds from its nearest neighbor Inu, also polluted by chemicals, caused the rain to appear a foreboding black.

怪雨 means, at least in most contexts in Ame, mysterious dark rain.

The rain isn't so mysterious anymore. It's well-known that people of Ame cause it. Those towering, spewing chimneys. But even so, many like to believe it is the act of a restless spirit that causes their rain to be so corrosive and sickly.

Naruto can witness this as he strides through the streets, carrying a recently purchased, delicate metal umbrella, its black cloth shading him from the noxious falls. Like in Gama, the smells of Kaiu agitate his sinuses, but he endures the burning and itching inside and out upon his face, bearing it with a firm look.

Despite the rain, everyone is outside today. In spite of the hidden sun, mouldy clouds of gray hanging in the sky, people conduct business in the busy streets. Children scamper, their feet smashing into puddles, leaping over small lakes in the bending gray-stone streets.

Naruto stops and smiles, admiring the vigor of the children. He wonders what it would have been like to grow up in a place like this. But his musings can't linger for long, there are lines of people crowding the ways and people push and shove as he blocks their path.

Everyone is hurriedly carrying an umbrella. Most are black, like his, though a few sport interesting shades of pink, green, red and violet. A few have beautiful woven patterns; one has the sign of Salamander on it and people give that man a wide berth as he walks through the street, his eyes shifting about, lower face hidden by a purple face-mask, one like Kakashi-sensei used to wear.

Naruto moves very far away from that man's searching gaze, blending in easily enough with the crowds. His blue kimono and fishnet, even with his cropped blond hair and whisker-marked tan cheeks, make him look like a natural. He is smiling softly, while most people wear a humble, cowed look, but that's his most outstanding feature as an alien.

Naruto ambles about, studying the buildings he passes with a shuffle of his feet. There are many restaurants, hot spices drawing his gaze toward their ornate entrances, the sounds of sizzling reaching his sensitive ears. But most people purchase food in the sprawling, decentralized market spots. Naruto passes by people as they haggle over handfuls of groceries, each stall specializing in a particular set of fruit, vegetable, meat, or necessity. Purified rain water is also sold by the gallons, though its high price strikes Naruto as odd.

Notably, there isn't a single vendor of weapons or arms anywhere. So far, not even a kitchen knife or a pair of scissors. Metallic items in general seem to be of a rarity; only one jeweler is even selling anything in the streets, as far as he can see. His goods are cheap too, mostly shells and stone beads strung up on fine shiny wire. There is an abundance of pottery, however. It's tempting to purchase a decorative clay mask as a replacement for the one he carelessly threw away, but without the proper viewing-seals, it wouldn't be very useful.

Naruto encounters only two shinobi while aimlessly wandering about. They wear the slitted bands of rain on their foreheads and are about his age. Their skin is pale and they are garbed in black raincoats. Thankfully, there's no wind today, but as a result, their coats stand stiffly against their muscular features, hiding the shapes of whatever they might be carrying underneath.

They chat idly, guarding the entrance to a nondescript black brick building. Everyone steers clear of it, so the blond missing-nin does too. The shades are drawn on the streaky glass windows; most buildings don't even bother with windows without awnings, so the structure is peculiar enough to garner a slight if dangerous interest.

When it's noon, Naruto plops down and eats a little of the food he picked up at a stall. A banana and and stick of grilled tofu. No ramen bars in sight, unfortunately. Not that he's even sure he could afford a proper meal. He had left with what he thought would be more than enough money, but everything in Kaiu was extremely expensive, at least compared to the merchant they met on their way to it.

He listens to the song of the rain. He realizes that he has his flute on his person, Haku having left with the sealing scroll. After he finishes eating, he pulls it out. Holding the umbrella in one hand, the flute in the other, he decides to play a one-handed song, fingers travelling slowly along the notes, guided by the sound of the rain against the stones. Against the umbrellas. Against the buildings. Slipping, sliding down into the hidden labyrinths of sewer pipes, gathering in the lowest parts of Kaiu, the parts nobody sees or wishes to see. The rain comes. And it's been falling for a long time. It's an ancient rain, so it begets an ancient melody to his shifting fingers.

The world falls away for a while. Naruto doesn't even realize that there's an audience, or that he's been creating a slight breeze in the city street, though nobody is able to connect him with its sudden presence.

Naruto opens his eyes when he finally senses something.

A slight blush adorns his cheeks as he looks up.

His lips open.

"Beautiful." He says as the flute falls from his mouth. He feels dizzy and yet so tranquil, that the word just drops out of his mind like a floating bubble, like the world around him is safely contained inside its private confines.

She wears a gray kimono around a lithe frame. It bends with a subdued breeze that dies as he stares. A dark sash constricts a taut waist. Black mesh clothing lies underneath the gray kimono, peeking out of its open collar.

Skin slightly damp, it's radiant. Not quite as pale as Haku's, but still rightly so; a pink glow in her raw cheeks. The girl before him is nearly his age. She has bright red eyes the same shade as her wild pinkish-red hair.

She has a hand on her hip, her eyes narrowing at the comment, matte pink lips pulling into a tight line.

"Excuse me?"

"O-Oh. Sorry." He shakes his head, "You startled me."

Her gaze flickers away, but she's unfazed, "I shouldn't apologize."

"Um... What?"

"I was watching you. Listening, rather." She explains curtly, gazing back with her fiery gaze, "What was that song you were just playing?" The umbrella in her hand twirls around and around in her fingers.

"Huh? The song?" Naruto blinks, grinning, "It wasn't a song. I was just playing."

She crosses her arms over her chest, "Don't give me that. What was that song?"

"I told you. I just made it up."

"Tch." She hisses, "Of course you wouldn't tell me."

"I'm telling you the truth."

"Fine. Fine." She sighs in a tightly restrained way, "I suppose it is a little rude of me to demand the song." She reaches into her kimono and Naruto looks away bashfully, until something shiny catches the corner of his eye.

In the redhead's hand is a silvery flute.

"Oh hey. You play the flute too. Cool."

She nods, "I'll teach you a song. You'll teach me yours. Sound fair?"

Naruto smiles wide, until he deflates, "Well, I only know one song. And I don't know if you want to hear it. As I was telling you before, the song I just played - I just made it up."

She blinks, "Are you serious?"

"Was it a really good song?" Naruto hums, "It didn't sound that good to me. It just... felt good. Natural, I guess. I was trying to match the rain."

"Match the rain?"

"Oi! Tayuya!" Their private moment is interrupted when a dark-skinned man approaches.

He's just a head taller than the redhead and wears a massive black coat on his rather short frame. It's bulky at the shoulders and ribs, like he's got it stuffed full of something, his lower half narrowing to a pair of stocky legs, thin black sandals on his feet, tall white socks reaching his knees. His hair is shaggy, his eyes a deep black.

"Kidoumaru." The redhead snorts, "I'm busy."

"So are we." The large-chested man says, looking down imposingly on the short girl, who shrinks as he leans forward, "You can hit up guys some other time."

Naruto blushes.

The redhead grits her teeth, "I'm not hitting on him." She points at him with her instrument, "He was going to teach me a song."

"I was?"

"You were." She turns and hisses.

Naruto nods rapidly, looking the other guy in the eye.

The teen turns and gazes quizzically at Naruto, then noting the golden wind instrument in his hand.

"This isn't the time for games." He announces.

"And this is coming from you?"

"Well, what can I say?"

"Ah, Tayuya-chan." The girl glares at Naruto like a viper ready to strike, "If you really want to learn a song, I don't mind. I'm interested in learning about the flute some more. What are you guys doing? Maybe I can help out."

"It's nothing you can help with, kid-"

"Hiei."

A muscular arm reaches up, grappling at the damp clumps of hair against a dusky face, "Fine. Whatever. Hiei-chan."

"What's your problem?" Tayuya glares, "I just stopped to talk for a moment. There's no rush. Are you jealous or something fucking childish like that?"

"Jealous?! Argh. Fucking girls. Have you been listening at all, Tayuya? Yes there is a rush. We have to be places. You don't want to upset him. Or do you not remember what happened last time?"

Naruto studies the two suspiciously, but wisely says nothing.

"Anyway," Kidoumaru grumbles, "If you're so sure you can help, I suppose we could use an extra pair of eyes and ears."

"For what?"

Tayuya interjects, "We're looking for a place called Steel Silks. It's a compound here in this dump where they manufacture a special silk that this dummy here needs to get his hands on."

"Oi, Tayuya- don't just-"

"It's fine. This guy's not gonna tell nobody." Tayuya waves her hand, "Besides, it's your fault for interrupting my conversation. I was just gonna ask him back to our place so we could swap-"

"Saliva?"

Naruto stiffens, blushing as the girl growls through her teeth, "Shitface, don't get my nerves with such lame jokes." Tayuya shakes her head, "Anyway, do you know where that place is, Hiei-san?" she tries to sound sweet, though it's obviously pretty forced even to Naruto's ears.

"I'm new to town myself." He admits with a frown, watching as Kidoumaru deflates with a sigh. Tayuya grimaces, though Naruto thinks it's kind of cute, "But I can make myself useful. If I find where it is, where can I leave a note?"

"Don't bother." Tayuya huffs, "We'll find it eventually."

"Ah. Okay."

Kidoumaru walks away, "I'll go search this way, you try to find Jiroubou. Maybe he found it."

The teen vanishes into the crowd, leaving them alone.

"Oh, he's such a stupid piece of shit." The girl spits on the ground and puts away her flute, "Anyway, Hiei is it? Where are you staying."

She doesn't even make it a question. Naruto doesn't even hesitate to tell her the directions.

"Really?" she blinks, "What's your room number?"

"What do you mean?"

She stares.

"Right. Well, three-zero-six."

"Ours is two-forty." She pauses, "I guess we both have shitty tastes in inns, huh?"

Naruto chuckles, "Yeah, I guess."

"Well, me and the rest of the birdbrains will be busy all day. So we can trade songs in the evening."

"Sounds good."

The girl hesitates before leaving awkwardly, not saying another word.

The blond calmly begins playing the flute again, deciding to burn a little more time before exploring the rest of the town.

He doesn't sense the redhead who continues to listen to the winding rhythm in the thickly churning crowds.

---

Naruto explored the rest of Kaiu until evening arrived. It seemed activity grinded to a halt then, as a very early curfew, or an unofficial one at least, kicked into effect.

Naruto had spent a lot of time near the factories, talking to workers about life in Kaiu. Not many people wanted to talk to him. Most barreled on by. But a few of the kids his age were more forthcoming. To the blond's disturbing gaze, he noted that many of the dismissed workers were kids, some even students still going to school when they could afford to. So far, he hadn't even encountered a school. Not that he knew much about civilian schooling, but seeing kids as young as but far skinnier than Konohamaru, working from sun rise to sun set, well, it made him stop and think. Maybe he was lucky. Maybe being a jinchuuriki nearly wasn't as bad as he had thought. Could he have had a better life here? Like that? It seemed unlikely. Most of these kids would probably die young, if the way some of them limped home doggedly, was any indication.

It was tempting to storm at least a few of the factories he passed and kill the bosses there. But what would that accomplish? It'd simply stave the kids or call in retribution from the top. If Gama's destruction and the ruthless hunting down of his clones were any indication, Hanzou's policies were strictly zero-tolerence.

It must have been terrifying, living under the control of someone like Hanzou, whose enforcers were almost invisible. Save for the occasional genin, Naruto saw neither hide nor hair of a shinobi. In Kaiu, the Salamander police force seemed to be in short supply, but it was far more likely they were simply waiting in the shadows. Lurking. Listening. How many slips of the tongue would it take for one of them to decide a life was justified taking? Maybe just one.

He decided that the people of Kaiu were both terribly cowardly and incredibly strong, to endure life like they did.

Oddly quiet and pensive, Naruto returns to a scene he really doesn't like.

Sitting on the bed is Haku, a sour expression on his lips, hands folded in his lap.

Kidoumaru sits across from him. The dark-skinned man is still wearing a damp bulky coat and the sheets where he sits are damp with rainwater.

Tayuya leans against the wall by the door. A kunai twirls in one hand, a playful smile teasing her cheeks.

"You're ninja." She says to him, the door to their room open, the lights dim. The carpet is mauve-colored and matches Tayuya's pretty hair well.

Naruto smiles, "Yep. I figured you guys were, too."

Haku shakes his head, "Naruto, sometimes I wonder what goes through your head."

"What?!" Naruto huffs, "They haven't hurt you or anything, right?"

"No, we haven't." Kidoumaru says, his cold eyes staring down Haku, "Not yet."

"Oi, what's with the attitude, you jerk?" Naruto glares as Tayuya brings her blade close to his throat, "And you, Tayuya-chan. Quit being-"

"You are a shithead." She breathes in awe, a little laugh contained in her words, "Do you realize what's going on?"

"Sure. I'm back from my walk." He shows her his dripping umbrella, the action making her push the kunai closer to his throat. But he isn't the least bit threatened, though he'd rather not revisit the discomfort of two days ago, with blood soaking his lungs - he was still coughing some of it out at night.

"Tayuya-chan." Naruto whines playfully, "Put away the kunai. You're not with Amegakure, right?"

"You're not with Amegakure, right?" Tayuya challenges, "And stop calling me that, fuckface."

"We're missing nin, as I said." Haku explains, Naruto nodding, "Yep. I did tell you guys, we just got into town. This is our first time here."

"What are you here for?" Kidoumaru leverages, blinking as his eyes snap toward Naruto, who curls his fingers around Tayuya's kunai, pushing it away from his throat.

"We're not here for whatever it is you guys are doing." Naruto challenges, "Seriously. Quit being jerks." He points the umbrella at him.

"Watch it, bitch." Tayuya grips her kunai, pulling harshly. But it doesn't budge. Naruto's grip is so tight, the blade can't even move enough to slice open his palm.

Instead, Naruto yanks on the kunai, pulling Tayuya close to him. He blushes when her warm body presses into his side, a sudden exhale of breath pushing her breasts into his arm.

Before Kidoumaru and Tayuya can even blink, blocky shackles of solid blue ice have formed around the shadowy wrists, a subtle gesture in Haku's lap tightly locking them in place.

"W-What the-" the shinobi grunts, pulling.

"Don't fuck with the um- Futanin!" Naruto wrests the blade from Tayuya's grip and flips it around hurriedly, if a little awkwardly, his other hand throwing his dripping umbrella away and snatching Tayuya's wrist. He snaps her into him, her own kunai turned against her.

"Futanin?" Haku hedges as shackles crystallize in the air and bind Kidoumaru's ankles, pinning him to the bed before he can even formulate an intelligent response.

"Well, we don't have a third guy yet." Naruto whines, Tayuya rigid and cold in his deadly embrace, "So we can't call ourself the Sannin just yet."

"Tayuya, what the fuck is going on? Did we really- man you're fucking useless."

"Me?! You're the one who's fucking worthless trash! Sakon's going to be pissed when he finds out you blew it."

"Me! It was you who decided to-"

"We aren't going to hurt you guys." Naruto explains, "I don't even get why you decided to do this. I would have been happy to try to teach you the thing I was playing Tayuya-chan." His warm breath is on the shorter girl's ear as he speaks, making her squirm a little, "Hey Haku, why don't you-"

"Fuck this. You think you guys are so tough?" Kidoumaru grits his teeth, his large coat bursting apart at the seems, four long, muscular arms breaking free. Two reach up and help pull on the icy shackles while the he falls forward off the bed, tackling Haku and pinning both his arms to the bed with the remaining two.

Haku's strong bindings aren't something that can be easily ripped apart, even with another pair of hands pulling or punching at them. It would have been smarter just to start choking the lithe ninja, or throwing punches into his unguarded skull.

"Um, wha-" Tayuya uses the surprised, slackened grip on Naruto's kunai to duck her chin down, her face slamming into his hand, knocking the weapon free. She twirls on her heel and spins out from him, facing him as she whips a flute out of her light kimono.

The redhead wears a pleased smirk, "Okay, I admit that was careless of me. But you're an amateur. Now we have yo-"

Although Haku's hands are pinned to the bed, it doesn't really do anything, since Haku can perform one-handed techniques. With a little concentration, ice gathers around a second pair of Kidoumaru's arms, awkwardly binding them above the lower set.

"What the fuck, you cheater!" He says, not noticing how Tayuya's wrists are now also bound, her flute dropping from her hands in startled shock. It tumbles to the ground, the blond quickly snapping it up before she can react. He thinks it has a hdiden blade in it or something, though he's not honestly sure why she was about to use it as a weapon in such a dangerous situation.

Naruto sighs, taking a step forward and avoiding a long forward kick from Tayuya as his foot slips across the carpet and kicks the dropped kunai to the far edge of the room, hopping back as she lets out a second kick with a ferocious feline-like snarl.

"Can you two just settle down?" Haku uses Kidoumaru's forceful pushing against him, his legs flying up into the teen's belly. He flips him over the bed, making him crash into the carpet behind him painfully.

Naruto makes a single seal, "Kage bunshin no jutsu." He mutters, creating two copies of himself. One lunges at the wrist-bound Tayuya, but is dispelled by a lashing kick. The second swerves around it, grappling her in a bear hug around the knees.

"Fuck! You pervert! Let the fuck go of me!"

"Hey, I'm not a perv." The clone defends himself, tightening his hold, "Would you two just calm down already?! Why don't you believe us dattebayo?"

"Because it's too much of a coincidence." Haku explains calmly, standing up off the bed with a sigh, watching the six-armed ninja with a curious expression, "They probably think we were sent to tail them on their mission, or something."

Haku makes several seals with his hands, Kidoumaru watching in terrified awe as the room fills with hovering senbon, curving around both of their bodies, aligning at multiple angles. The translucent ice twinkles in the bright lights of the ceiling.

"Sensatsu Suisho." Haku breathes out, one thousand senbon produced at a dangerously short distance, walls of jagged ice floating around both hostiles.

"Game over."

Tayuya slackens, shivering at all the pointed needles, "Alright, I give."

Haku hesitates, still maintaining his shackles. Naruto's clone lets go of Tayuya. The redhead stomps on the clone's foot, dispelling it.

"Hey!"

"Tayuya! You bitch! Don't make them kill us!"

"I'd rather die than be embarrassed like this." She trembles, "This is humiliating!"

"Are you stupid or something?" Naruto growls, "I said we're not enemies. Would you get it through your head already?"

"Just listen to him you stupid bitch!"

"Quit calling me that you cunt! I am not a fucking bitch!"

Naruto's hands move through a few seals. He focuses greatly as he mutters angrily under his breath, a powerful calming genjutsu washing over the girl. She blinks, a euphoric smile on her face.

"There. That's better." Naruto chirps, "Now, Tayuya-chan, why don't you go walk slowly over to the bed and lie down."

The girl is hopelessly confused. She nods, smiling brilliantly, "Oh, um, of course." It's only after she takes a few steps that she realizes she's in a genjutsu. But by then, she's already lying on the bed.

It takes a while to calm the two down. Haku gradually releases the cuffs of ice as they interrogate their attackers. The two give up that they're from Sound on a mission tonight to recover a special silk from a workshop in Kaiu. Haku eventually dispels his senbon and frees up the tightly clamped hands and wrists of Tayuya, allowing her to make a seal to dispel the euphoric genjutsu.

Finally, the room settles down.

"I am Haku." The expert hyouton-user says calmly.

"Tayuya."

"Kidoumaru."

"Very pleased to meet you." Haku deadpans, looking over at Naruto and only then offering a playful smile, "I wish Naruto would inform me when he makes new friends."

"Yeah well, I'm sorry, alright? They didn't act like shinobi when I met them. Though they were a little funny acting, I just... it's not like I could contact you anyway."

"Just try to blend in better next time."

He sighs in defeat, nodding.

"So, you're free to go." Naruto says, after a moment of silence, pointing toward the door.

"I suppose it's clear neither of you have anything to do with our mission." Kidoumaru grumbles, Not that I'm going to apologize for holding you up, Haku-san."

"I suppose I might have done the same in your situation. Yet, is it really uncommon for shinobi on completely different walks of life to stay in similar locations?"

"You're right above our room."

"Oh, I see."

Tayuya nods, "This is good, actually. If you're missing-nin, how much do you guys cost? You must be kinda cheap if you're workin' in Ame, right?"

"How much?" Naruto blinks, "Cheap?"

"Yeah. Sure." Kidoumaru looks at his teammate, nodding, "This is a good event, really. You already know about our mission. We're going to carry it out tonight. We could always use some more PCs. And you two are pretty good, but, just so you know, we were really holding back there. Only reason we didn't kill you guys is 'cause you did seem to have a friendly stance. And I was curious who you'd be working for. Nobody should know about us bein' here."

"You are proposing that we aid you in return for money."

He nods, "I'm sure Sakon will agree with my suggestion. He's lazy like that." Tayuya snickers.

Naruto smiles, "Well, sure. We could help, right Haku?"

"We don't really need money."

The blond hums, "Yeah, you're right. Stuff is expensive, but yeah, we have all the supplies we need for a few months. And we'll just get more then, no rush. But I don't mind, you two could keep your money, and-"

"You guys don't want money?" Tayuya blisters, "Are you gonna help us for free, or am I misunderstanding something here? What are you two? Fuckin' schmucks?"

Naruto laughs, "Well, if you want to pay us, you guys must have cool jutsu-" he points at Kidoumaru, "You have six arms like those statues- I bet you know some crazy cool jutsu right?" He gushes, "How do you have six arms anyway?!"

"I'm just special." He gloats, "But heh, I do know some super effective techniques." Kidoumaru puffs up his chest with a grin, sharing a flicker of his eyes with the redhead, "That's not a bad trade. Not like we have a lot of gald on us anyway." He looks again at Tayuya, "Think that sounds good? They help us out on the mission, you teach Figaro one of your genjutsu, and I'll teach Chere here-" he looks at Haku, "Eh, sealing's a rare art. I happen to be pretty good at it. How about I give you some pointers?"

"Sealing-" he looks over at Naruto, "-would be quite useful to learn, or at least understand better."

"Then it's settled. You help us, we'll teach you some new skills."

"Well, it's not exactly settled." Haku argues, "What will be our role? How will this work? We don't intend to compromise our position here. We have a task of our own to attend to in a few days."

Kidoumaru nods, "It's simple, really. Just follow our team. We're just gonna break in, rough some people up. Steal their shit, then get out. If you're quick and good at hiding yourselves, you can still stay here after that, they use a private security force anyway. Items gets stolen all the time and the police here are pretty incompetent." He pauses, "I was born here in Rain, actually." He explains, "So I can tell you all about how to glitch Hanzou's adds if you aggro them. They haven't updated their AI at all. There are some places they just don't look."

"Uh, right."

Tayuya sighs, sitting up straighter on the bed, adjusting her kimono, "Just ignore him, he's got arcade games on the brain."

Haku nods, "Well, if all we're to do is provide assistance against the guards they have there, I see no reason not to aid you in exchange. It's a generous offer. So the mission is tonight?"

"Yep." Kidoumaru says, "Just follow us down to our room. We'll wait on Jiroubou and Sakon and then we'll move out."

Naruto smiles, "Great. But before that. What's the Sound Vlilage you mentioned? I've never heard of it before."

"Why, you wanna join?" Tayuya inquires, "We're a new village, so we recruit nuke-nin of all kinds, even the shitty ones."

"What's supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just saying." She pauses, wearing a vicious grin as she gestures to the six-armed shinobi beside her on the bed, "Unique bloodlines are also highly valued and completely accepted. Are you interested?"

"Nah," Naruto looks over at Haku, who nods, "We're alright."

"Don't even bother Tayuya. Remember what Figaro said earlier? They're going to become the next Sannin." He laughs.

"Figaro? My name is Naruto."

"Yeah, but you're in blue and you're blond and you started hitting on Tayuya the moment you met her. That makes you Figaro."

"Hitting on her- I did not-"

"Well, you did call me beautiful." Tayuya mumbles, agreeing with her teammate for once.

Haku smiles, "Forget Naruto's question. We don't have the luxury to focus on the development of other villages right now. I hope you understand."

"Yeah yeah. You two like this shit hole. I've met a couple of people before like that. Beats me. Otogakure no Sato is less miserable than this dump."

Eventually, the four shinobi walk down stairs, leaving their room locked tight. Naruto and Haku are obviously wary about walking into the room of potential enemies, and it doesn't help when Tayuya vows to the blond that she'll eventually get him back for making herself look like a fool in front of Kidoumaru, but after staying on their guard inside the room for a while, chatting about Ame and arcade games of all things, the rest of the team: Sakon and Jiroubou come back.

Sakon has dark-gray haired with turquoise lipstick which makes Naruto gag upon seeing his long, nose-filled face, earning him instant favor with the potty-mouth redhead, despite their previous misgivings.

Jiroubou has broad shoulders and a stern look, his body subtly composed of prime fat and muscle. Haku is quick to rely his wariness to Naruto about him - he looks like an incredibly difficult opponent.

The subtle tension is dispelled; the situation is explained to them. And since money isn't involved, they're plenty agreeable for the help.

"So tomorrow, before we go, I'll give you some pointers. And this book I've got." Kidoumaru says to Haku as they prepare to leave, "Sound good?"

"Yeah."

Tayuya jabs her elbow into Naruto, "And you're gonna show me that stupid song. It has an odd quality to it that I'd like to experiment. I think... something could become of it."

"Eh? What do you mean by that."

"Well..."

---

So, under the cover of darkness, the six shinobi move out. It's been explained that Haku has a mastery of ice and Naruto a mastery of genjutsu and kage bunshin - though "mastery" is a bit of a misnomer. Still, Naruto goes with it, happy to be called an expert at anything by anyone. But apparently, among the Sound Four, being a master of something is commonplace. Each of them have highly unusual and individualized skills, of which they are all self-proclaimed masters of.

Jiroubou is adept at earth ninjutsu and is a physical powerhouse, claiming to know many esoteric and secret techniques.

Sakon is "good at being a sneaky bitch" and has some kind of crazy bloodline technique.

Tayuya utilizes sound-based genjutsu with her flute. Naruto wants to hear more about how this works, but she only offers the most limited of explanations.

Kidoumaru is a veritable spider, able to utilize silk-based techniques. Kidoumaru is the reason why they're on their current mission - they've been tasked with acquiring a special silk so that it can be studied and be incorporated, somehow, into the teen's body and techniques.

If the Sound Four are anything like the rest of Otogakure's shinobi, Naruto is certain he doesn't want to mess with that village. They're a unique bunch, the likes of which he's never encountered before. Sure, Konoha has had its awesome and unique kekkai genkai, but he's never seen a team with multiple unique disciplines combined before. It's awe-inspiring, a bit too much. If he had been born with a cool bloodline, would Team Seven have held itself together?

All four of them seem to communicate silently among one another, utilizing slight gestures and movements to organize themselves into an alert, cohesive unit. Naku and Haku trail behind, the blond doing his best to memorize the path they take through the winding streets at night, avoiding the groups of strange men that patrol outside at night, wearing all black and making barely a sound.

The residential and commercial districts merge into a familiar neighborhood. Tall factories and workshops are lined in rows. There's little cover for them, but Jiroubou gestures quietly, directing them through an abandoned warehouse, which opens up right at their destination.

And what a destination it is. The facility is walled off by a fanged black metal fence, jagged wire rolled over the rusty iron spikes. It's menacing, but ultimately useless. All six shinobi have no issue scaling it with a chakra-enhanced leap.

They land on the other side of the wall, a tall field of rotten, fetid brown grass covering the ground. Thanks to Ameyuri-sensei's basic silent movement training, Naruto and Haku are the only ones who make no sound, their movements deafened as they land, moving through the knee-high, blighted grass while barely disturbing it, the Sound Shinobi making waves as they slowly march through the tickling blades of bowing grass.

"Okay." Sakon, the apparent commander, turns, the darkness covering everything but his shining eyes, "You two will go in the front of the building. Think you can handle the guards there? We're expecting between six and eight genin or chuunin."

Haku blinks, whispering, "That many? Just for some silk?"

Kidoumaru nods, "It's a highly coveted secret. They call it Steel Silk. The silk here is used to make special clothes for Amegakure's jounin. It's highly resistant to the elements and lightning-based jutsu, plus two to both I think. desperate NPCs have tried to steal it in the past." He adds, "That's what I've heard anyway. They've almost succeeded a few times too, mostly because the owners don't trust the police faction here, according to our intel. They're not allowed on the grounds for any reason."

"We'll handle it. Just go already." Naruto promises, watching them go, leaping with perfect synchronization to the roof.

"Are you sure Naruto? I mean, I know we can handle ourselves, but we're getting involved in another-"

"We have to take risks, Haku." He says, not looking at him, "If we want to grow stronger. This is an opportunity."

"I suppose you're right." He chuckles, "I'm not so sure about this Sannin idea, but there's only so much training by ourselves will accomplish. Let's just hope there's somebody guarding this place that's a decent challenge."

"That's the spirit!"

Naruto rushes ahead, his feet pounding in the grass, which flattens softly at his footfalls, Haku not too far behind as they turn the corner of the building, his fingers forming a seal as he hisses, eight shadow clones materializing into existence around Haku. They turn a tight corner again, coming up close to the gray sheets of metal that make up the facility. The front doors are flat panels of glass with rickety, flaky handles, so Naruto throws himself into a flying kick, smashing through the front door.

"Anyone home!" He shouts, turning as more clones leap through the doors behind him, shards of glass flying through the air.

A kunai flies his way, piercing the darkness, but Boss reaches up and catches it, rolling into a tumble as a second one sunders the air where his head should be. Somersaulting near a pile of recently landed-glass, he scoops some up with his hand and climbs up into a standing position, hurling the larger pieces in one hand like they were shuriken, returning the stolen kunai with the other.

To his surprise, he hears a wet thunk in the darkness, a particularly large chunk of glass striking true, somewhere.

The lobby to the silk facility has cheap white tile flooring. None of the lights are on, but Naruto's enhanced night-vision can easily see the shapes of a large front desk with a tall stairwell behind it. There's a catwalk right above him, a second floor with sprawling halls that the Sound Four are already infiltrating from the roof. On the first floor of the lobby, there's a bathroom and a second pair of glass doors, containing a well-kept vivarium.

Two shinobi, dressed in all purple, from their ankles to the long face-masks that extend over their chins, nostrils and foreheads, fall down from the catwalk, propelling themselves toward Naruto, moving with impeccable finesse.

Haku rolls through the door, avoiding a shower of senbon from behind. He lifts one hand up with a seal, creating a hollow prism of ice around his body, shielding him from the angled kunai barrages of two more shinobi from the catwalk, one of them jumping through the broken front doors.

"Secret Technique: Tiger's Paw!" one of Naruto's attackers growls, the purple gloves on his hands breaking apart as long claws extend from the tips of his fingers.

"Secret Technique: Dance of the Macaw!" the other one shouts, his speed suddenly increasing, his body leaving blurs and gently-fading fuzzy, purple after-images in the darkness, almost making Naruto spin as he struggles to react to the uncomfortably bright light.

Four of his clones assist him, stepping in to absorb the blow of a wide-reaching swipe of jagged fingers and the slicing twirl of an airborne, spinning kick. The attacks are only slightly impeded, claws digging into Naruto's raised forearms, a crushing kick landing into his sides, sending him flying, blood squirting into the air.

Naruto's eyes widen as he smells something extremely close to him. Someone is completely invisible in the dark, his body silently running along him as he skids across the tile floor, tumbling. As he slams into a wall, he's only just able to push off it, avoiding a normally lethal slash to the jugular from his unseen attacker.

"What the hell! You're like a ghost or something!" Naruto complains, handling three highly skilled close-ranged fighters, while Haku fends off four slippery opponents. They attack under the cover of darkness, never exposing their bodies for long, twisting around Haku's senbon. One of them appears to be terribly wounded by Naruto's earlier impromptu counter-attack, blood trailing all over the floor as he climbs and jumps along the walls, leaping out of the way of Haku's long-ranged attacks.

The teen is more than happy to stand in place, using one hand to rapidly construct walls of ice to nullify thrown weapons, his other hand shooting thick spines of ice one after the other; his concentration fierce while he stares ahead blindly, not even acknowledging his enemies with a glance.

Clones continue to move into existence, however, the cat-handed shinobi moves with graceful lunges, skewering them in twos and threes with quick tears. In a minute, Naruto's arms are covered in horrible gashes, flaps of skin and muscle torn free, blood. He breathes hard, avoiding more crippling blows. It's tempting to fill the room with clones, but he has concerns for Haku, who starts to become more mobile, conserving his energy against his opponents. He doesn't want to give them cover inside a sea of duplicates.

It's strange, but now that he's in battle. Naruto can feel like he's closer to the Kyuubi. Maybe it's because during his last major fight, Hyou had somehow effected his ability to call on the fox, but here, the bijuu is close to the surface. Naruto's own hands morph, nails extending into narrow blades. The bloodlust he'd come to associate with this change is no longer present, though deep inside him, there's still a deep, agitated urge to kill.

Naruto strikes back at the invisible foe who gets too close. He lands a shallow rake across his arm, blood blossoming. Strangely, the wound fades away, as if shortly becoming invisible with the technique.

The jinchuuriki growls, "I wonder who's stronger? A cat? Or a fox?"

The response is immediate. The man's strange taijutsu is so hard to follow with his eyes, the after images covering his vision in the darkness, his enhanced eyesight actually hurting him. He's forced to shut his eyes and listen to the sounds, largely defending himself based on luck and faith, anticipating attacks and moving to the rhythm of his pounding heart, occasionally creating a clone or two when an opportunity presents itself - but their attacks are distracting and frequent.

Still, his clones start to significantly outnumber his opponents as they run up the sides of the wall, preventing their premature demise. While on the ceiling, his clones begin to shout, "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Fireballs lighting up the dark lobby, small explosions of fire slamming into the floor, breaking and shattering the tiles into razor-sharp shards and creating small, raging fires, making it hard for the enemy shinobi to maneuver. Although their teamwork is strong, the nearly invisible shinobi constantly putting Naruto on edge by striking right after his teammate's speedy and agile strikes, Naruto is able to stay on the defensive even without seeing, his rapid healing factor repairing the largely superficial injuries to his body - none of their attacks can penetrate deep enough to maim him. Naruto's strength is clearly in his ability to endure pain and injury, his opponents growing weary by the second minute of combat; they simply aren't equipped to handle someone who is better than them at staying alive.

Haku manages to lance an already wounded shinobi through the stomach with four thick ice senbon. They don't penetrate all the way, but the deep wounds spell his end. He crumbles to the floor, gasping for breath, giving up the fight as his eyes close into oblivion.

With only three shuriken and kunai-hurling shinobi remaining, Haku is able to focus better on each one, his attacks unrelenting. When Naruto's constant barrage of fire lights up the dark air, Haku sees flashes of movement in the broken shadows, his ice senbon flying true, piercing one shinobi in both eyes. Not killing him, but making him stumble back in agony. Without his sight, even in the darkness in which he has clearly trained, he's useless.

The shinobi realize they're losing and pull back into the vivarium, smashing open the glass doors and almost disappearing inside, but not before Boss lets loose an especially potent fireball. It explodes on the man's back, an excruciating shriek reverberating through the air as fire jumps, consuming his body. The fire burns deep into his flesh, his thin purple garb offering little resistance - much of it fusing to his body as it rapidly burns and eats away at his body. He's abandoned by his team as he stumbles into the vivarium, reduced to a smoldering, burning corpse on the ground as the two intruders approach.

Haku and Naruto take only a few breaths before meeting each other. Calmly, they enter into the next room, standing inside the large chamber, their eyes trained away from the brutally burned man, the raging chakra-fire going out on its own, leaving gruesome, blackened skin in the night.

It seems as though the vivarium exists to test various kinds of silk worm. Giant mounds of a strange fiber extend. They're surrounded by a solid fibrous fence, enclosing entire colonies of the bright yellow, orange and green creatures. Chains of crawling worms glow in the darkness, the moon shining through a window in the ceiling. The circular room doesn't offer much cover, besides the pyramid-like structures the worms graze and mate on. Thousands of half-chewed leaves dot the structures, the worms laying in piles of their own filth.

The scent is a revolting for Naruto, though Haku doesn't smell anything, it's strong enough to mask all of the hiding defenders. It isn't helped that the smell of burnt human flesh is also choking at his sense of smell, making him want to hurl.

"Buncha cowards." Naruto mumbles somberly. He's not bloodthirsty now that he's gotten a hold of himself, claws retracting. His breath is bated and his blood is pumping. It was truly exciting, to be pushed as hard as he just was. He didn't want the fight to end so abruptly. He also didn't want to kill that man so horribly. It's soured his mood - dropped from a high high to a low low.

Haku on the other hand, is cautious, his breaths deep and relaxing, "It's fine. They are skilled enough to realize we're only here as a distraction. As long as we pin them back here, we cannot assist our allies. It's a good stalemate."

"I could just send in the clones." Naruto hedges, "But I think I'll just send them upstairs to make sure the Sound Four are okay. We don't need any more bloodshed tonight."

It's a lame end to an interesting mission, the blond having expected a little more. Naruto creates a clone and dispels it, sending his thoughts to his clones, who descend from the ceiling and onto the stairwell, kicking down the door and exploring the second floor, while Naruto tries to wipe the blood off his arms and endure the thick rancid scent of thousands of live, writhing silk worms.

The second floor of the facility is filled with laboratories. Most are rearing silk worms, as far as Naruto's uninitiated mind can tell. At the end of one of the halls, he finds a break in a ventilation shaft, a shattered door by it. That laboratory is picked clean, the presence of the Sound Four long gone. Inside the room is a corpse in a lab coat and two shinobi, huge pools of spreading over the once pristine white floors.

That clone dispels, making Naruto grumble, "They left without informing us. I guess all they needed was just a few-"

Naruto and Haku turn, meeting the eyes of eight more shinobi, their cold eyes on them. They are all dressed in purple body-suits, clearly confident now. The other shinobi hiding in the vivarium bleed from the darkness, pinning them in the back.

"Okay. So next time, we flush them out and kill them instead of giving them a chance to radio in help." Naruto says flatly.

"I suppose mercy is a bit much to expect in Ame." Haku says with cold reluctance, "I didn't want to kill more than absolutely necessary, but so be it."

Although the two teens are young-looking, their opponents don't underestimate them. Twelve shinobi to two is a close call, but in the darkness, with Naruto's swarms of clones filing in from the second floor and jumping onto the ceiling, they're able to push back their opponents and break through their attempt at capturing them. In the process of fleeing through the night, they kill one of the guards, injuring countless others with another impressive fireball from one of Naruto's clones.

In their wake, the lobby of the silk facility is broken and burning, small fires littering the ground. Responsible for the integrity of the building, their pursuers break off and return to douse the flames and prevent more damage.

It doesn't seem as though they're followed upon returning late at night to the inn, sneaking into their room through an open window. Naruto is able to guide Haku along the alleys, it being too dangerous to use the highly visible rooftops for travel. It helps that the Sound Four demonstrated a safe route to the facility, so they're able to use that for half of the way 'home'.

Tired, dirty, bloody and smelly, the teens quickly change out of their clothes for spares, leaving them folded in the bathroom for now. A good shower awaits their bodies tomorrow.

It's late, halfway to morning, and Naruto is irritated with the Sound Four and himself for trusting them so implicitly. Haku is silent, his lack of verbal judgment both a relief and a panging guilt.

"I'm sorry." Naruto says then, as they knock three times on the floor below their room, the door to the Sound Four's room opening on its own, revealing it cleaned out and bare.

"It's okay." His friend chuckles, "They used us smartly, likely hoping to pin their mission on a pair of nuke-nin. If we had gotten killed or captured, it would have exonerated them. They probably feel really good, right about now."

Naruto nods, "Next time, we're asking for everything up-front."

"How about we just work for ourselves from now on?" he adds after a beat, "And maybe Akatsuki."

Naruto sighs, sinking to his knees, "This sucks. They seemed kinda nice."

"When? Before or after they tried to hold us up in our own room?"

"Um, after? Fine, okay, I was wrong again. Can you blame me?"

"I can't. On the bright side, nothing apparently went wrong." Haku lifts his hand, showing Naruto his crossed fingers, "And we did get a little combat exercise. Though now we'll have to use disguises for the rest of our stay here, just in-case."

"Yeah..."

"We did learn something valuable, about trusting Sound nin."

It's not much a consolation. An almost mundane mission gone bad. It feels almost like a dream to Naruto, who says as much, climbing up the stairs to return to their room.

"It's not unlike how some of the things I did with Zabuza went." Haku says, "Sometimes a job's just a job. There were many times when things went smoothly. Don't worry about it."

The eventful night passes into day. They rise groggily, Haku feeling just a bit stiff in his injured arm.

---

Approximately three days before they must meet their contact at the Inai brothel, there isn't much to do. With the brief excitement of the Sound Four gone, the town seems especially dull. It rains cold and dark, making it seem like perpetual early morning or blackest midnight take turns reigning.

They don't want to go out in public just yet, a little fearful someone might recognize them from the night before, so they order breakfast in bed. Or rather, carry up food from the lobby of the inn. Naruto purchases some Ramen-like dish, Haku chewing away at curd-filled rolls.

"Hey, you know." Naruto says, striking up a conversation in the comfortable silence of their room, "Tayuya did give me a pretty good idea. She used her flute for genjutsu - it's too bad she didn't teach me how she does it - but what's stopping me from trying?"

There's a laugh, "I don't think it's something simple you can just do. She'd have to teach you. Nor is it necessarily good, in order to use such a technique, you'd need to use that flute in combat. And that seems dangerous. Also, you risk breaking it. It's not yours to break or lose, you know."

Naruto nods, "Right." He sighs, "It would be cool though."

"That Kidoumaru did have a good offer though. Fuuinjutsu. You or I should learn some of that. When we encounter someone from them again, I'll ask for a scroll on it."

"Yeah. Sounds good to me."

"Actually, that reminds me." Haku points out, "We do have Ameyuri-sensei's library of scrolls on us. I packed them in here when we left in a hurry. I never got a chance to go through them."

Most of the time, Naruto's blue eyes can be described "chilling warmth". As paradoxical as that might sound, to Haku, it makes absolute sense. Passion dwells in his gazes, the rigid muscles around his eyes making him seem utterly focused on a single task. Driven to succeed at any cost to person. They are the eyes of someone truly desperate, willing to do anything to achieve the lofty ideals that lie underneath their surface.

Yet, it's not so simple. A construct of metal does not lie behind those eyes. Naruto is not a sword. He is not a shinobi. He isn't a tool. He's a force. A force so cold that his gaze penetrates to the bone. In those ways, he is no different from a sword, but he also understands there are consequences to his actions. No matter what he desires, he has to compromise to get there. He has to understand others to get there. He is a hungry braggart and a trusting fool, but also fiercely kind and lethally cunning. He knows, at least instinctually, that ideals are a weapon. To become The Sannin - that's more than simply becoming strong; to become the next Sannin implies a kind of transcendental power. The Sannin truly could have done anything with themselves. Any nation would welcome them with open arms, any village would change its ideals to suit their machinations, had they pushed enough. Yet in the end, the vices of the Sannin had chipped their edges. They had become content. They all had their drives, but they all lacked the true drive - the willingness to both sacrifice themselves and desire power.

And now, upon the revelation that there has been an entire library of jutsu contained in a scroll this whole time, albeit, that time has not been too long, given the lethal distractions that would have prevented their use anyway...

Well, inside Naruto's eyes, Haku can only see one thing: a cold desire for power.

Haku removes the scroll from his green kimono, finding where he had hastily stored the cord-tied scrolls.

"Don't you think it's odd she kept all these?" Haku asks as he stares at the bed before him - twelve ragged scrolls laid in a row, "Most techniques are not written down. They are passed down from master to student. Only some of the most basic techniques are produced with ink. Well, forbidden techniques are all recorded, but often without specific details necessary to replicate them. They are also secured away in secure vaults and hidden caches."

"Uh right. But what about family techniques?"

"Sometimes they are written down on ancestral scrolls which are passed down... but those are a liability. Only great clans with strong, loyal supporters can afford to keep those lying around. Most of my techniques I have learned from studying two of my family's scrolls - they were stolen by Zabuza-sama when we left Kirigakure. I'm not sure if any others exist, but it is highly unlikely."

"Hmm, maybe Saiken knows?"

"Maybe. I doubt it. Merchants don't usually sell stuff like that. It's way too risky. That's like asking to be killed on the roadside somewhere by a vengeful clan or village. It's practically taboo. Although I don't think it's fair, it is true to say that jutsu are one means of power; power cannot be taken so lightly as to be sold by just anyone. Its price is simply too great for most to bear."

"Makes sense I guess." He hums, trying so hard to pretend like he's not going to explode at the seems in excitement, "So... any idea what these scrolls are on about?"

"We'll have to carefully inspect each one." He picks up one, giving the other to Naruto.

The blond unravels his first, reading aloud, "Kirigakure no Jutsu."

Haku nods, "That's a very common technique. Many genin from Kiri know it."

"Hmm, it is interesting, but I don't know. It doesn't seem too useful."

"I disagree. Any technique can be useful. There's certainly no harm in learning it, though if we require its use, I already have it mastered."

"Maybe later then. You're right that it wouldn't hurt."

Naruto looks expectantly at Haku, who opens the scroll teasingly, slowly unravelling it, liking the way Naruto's eyes dance in annoyance.

"Kasumi Jusha no Jutsu."

"Mist Servant Technique?"

"It is a genjutsu. D-Rank." He scans the scroll, "I don't know if it would suit you, Naruto. The description is very vague, but it seems to fool the enemy into seeing multiple clones of you, that don't really exist of course."

Naruto reaches forward and takes it from him gently, "I'll look it over. Genjutsu has been pretty useful so far. It sounds interesting, like, maybe if I use it with my clones. I could really drive people nuts trying to figure out where I am."

Haku laughs, "Yes, it sounds quite scary when you put it like that."

They go through the other scrolls in quick succession.

Shunshin no Jutsu - the general D-rank technique that can be used for quick, if chakra-consuming short-ranged flash movement, its effect is largely determined by the user's chakra control and physical conditioning.

Suiton: Mizurappa - a C-ranked water technique that creates a powerful jet of water from one's lungs, expelling it through the mouth.

Suiro no Jutsu - The water prison technique Zabuza had used on Kakashi in their first fight. It's also C-ranked.

Mizu Bunshin no Jutsu - The water clone technique Zabuza had also used in their first encounter. Also C-ranked.

Kuchiyose no Jutsu - The technique Ameyuri-sensei had spoken of when she offered her Butterfly contract.

Sanzenchou no Jutsu - This technique is written on very old paper, its ink especially beautiful, shimmering in the light. It requires the Butterfly contract to wield and allows spontaneous summons of butterflies, which multiply through the use of a special kind of cloning technique. It claims to mesmerize opponents and physically obstruct jutsu by creating jarring vibrations of chakra in the air. Although it is not a genjutsu and cannot be dispelled like one, it behaves in a similar manner. C-Ranked.

Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu - A C-ranked genjutsu which creates an illusion, slightly or drastically altering basic elements of the physical surroundings. The genjutsu "attaches" to any physical thing, effecting those who look at it.

Hien - A B-ranked weapon-based technique. It allows the user to channel chakra into a weapon, extending its reach and enhancing the weapon's properties with that element.

Chou Bunshin no Jutsu - It is written on the same paper and with the same ink as the Sanzenchou technique. A B-ranked technique that utilizes a powerful genjutsu to mask the creation of clones in the shape of butterflies.

Kaminari no Jutsu - A C-Ranked lightning technique. It charges the oxygen molecules in a straight line, ionizing them. A negative charge builds up in the finger until lighting arcs out, balancing out the charge created by the technique. Notably, the scroll has many warnings written on it - practicing the technique indoors and unsupervised is bound to result in death, heart failure, or at least temporary paralysis or nerve pain.

Additionally, there is also a thirteenth scroll they find after double-checking the contents of their stuffed sealing scroll. It is in-fact the contract for the butterflies. It would sell for quite a lot of money from its apparent age alone. Haku is briefly fascinated by all the bloody signatures in it, a brief poem elegantly written in the margins. The scroll might be over a century old.

After pouring over the twelve jutsu scrolls, Naruto is left a little disappointed, "Ameyuri-sensei sure doesn't have much."

"Well, you do have a genjutsu to play with." Haku holds up the scroll that contains Hien, "I will attempt to understand this technique and replicate it, it could be useful if it works with kunai. Though, to be honest, I've never been much of a book-learner. It's likely I won't make much progress on it this way."

Naruto nods, deflating, "Oh well. At least that's dealt with. I mean, Kaminari no jutsu looks fun n' all, despite the fact I still have horrible nightmares about Ringo-chan using it on me." Haku laughs, "I'm pretty sure I'll be terrible at it."

They put the scrolls back, "What kind of attitude is that?"

"Well, I guess I could try learning it later. But let's just say I'm not too thrilled about the possibility of frying myself alive if fail to perform the technique correctly."

Haku laughs, "You're showing some discretion at least. I agree though. With your chakra control using a new element - that's bound end poorly." He shrugs, "Besides, you can't practice a technique like that in an inn anyway. We'll have shinobi all over this place in seconds."

"Yeah."

"It's probably fine to practice that genjutsu on a clone if you want to though." He points to the Kasumi Jusha technique still in Naruto's hand.

"Yeah. Though, it might not be smart for you to play with that Hien thing until we're out on the road again."

The day passes slowly. Rain just continues to pour in Kaiu. It's a bit calming, but does little to help Naruto focus. Against all the progress he's made with genjutsu so far, it's not his aptitude. The technique slips from his fingers, his chakra control, while significantly better than when they first set out from Wave, is still extremely poor when learning new techniques.

Haku does comment that it's significantly reduced in how wasteful he is. The teen now has to actively concentrate to feel the "bright" pressure that emanates from his body every time he performs a jutsu.

Since there really isn't anything for him to do while Naruto practices on his clone, Haku reviews the kenjutsu he learned under Ameyuri Ringo, swinging the air with empty hands, recalling all the basic patterns and she taught him, his mind focused on perfecting the mass muscle movement required to correctly wield two blades. It's rather fruitless and unsatisfying. To learn to use a blade, one must practice with a blade. And even then, one does not learn nearly as much as when they have an opponent to practice against. Using a kunai would also be detrimental to practice, due practicing with the light weight and wrong grip. It's better to visualize a proper sword in one's grip.

Naruto doesn't last too long on the new genjutsu. He gets just as bored as Haku. And instead devotes some time to replicating the song Tayuya liked so much. He sits on the edge of his bed, listening to the rhythm of the rain. It takes much longer this time, but he eventually finds that place. The place where it felt so right. He can feel the way the rain moves along the side of the inn, some of it slipping down into the bamboo gutter, spiralling into the metal drain outside.

Haku claps, "Oh? Who taught you a new song? That's pretty good, even if it doesn't have any melody."

"The rain did." He says, as if that explains anything at all.

"What?" he laughs, "The rain?"

"Yeah. I can't explain it." He hums, "Maybe it's the flute? Saiken did say it was special."

"Well, you've certainly gotten good at creating gusts of wind with that thing. Maybe you shouldn't try to use that for genjutsu, but like a cannon."

Naruto blinks, "A cannon?"

"Sure. Can you mould chakra consciously while you play? Or have you just been making those gusts without thinking at all?"

A sinister smile plays upon those lips, "Oh, man. I think I could kiss you!" He lunges forward, crushing Haku with a hug, rubbing his warm cheek against his friend's cold one.

"Please don't."

"Uh, right. I wasn't serious, you know?"

"Right."

So, Haku watches quietly. The gust of wind swirling gently around the room dies now, as Naruto plays. His fingers move with some unknown rhythm, creating a chaotic, yet pleasant song. According to him, he follows the timing of the rain, and it seems to be helping him give shape to wind chakra coming out of the flute. Haku watches in awe as it concentrates into a swirling gust right in front of him. Unlike the random whirls, whips and snaps from before, the wind chakra is densely centralized in front of him, creating a miniature cyclone, as evident by the sheets before him rising up and coiling around themselves.

Naruto stops playing his song, watching his creation twirl and spin for just a moment longer, it giving out without a conscious shape to follow.

"You are a genius."

Those pale cheeks blush, "I didn't do anything you couldn't have done."

"Mm. Yeah. But now I owe you."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do! You just helped me discover something amazing! Now I've gotta find something for you."

"I don't need something like that. I- honestly Naruto, I already have enough things to use to kill and hurt people with."

"Yeah... I guess when you put it like that... though, you might have enough techniques, you don't have enough strength. Right?"

"I only need more strength if I intend to fight more powerful opponents. To be perfectly honest Naruto, I could easily go back and become a chuunin for Kirigakure if they would let me."

"Yeah."

"And once Ameyuri-sensei finishes teaching me her kenjutsu, I will probably be good enough to be jounin. You know? If I had been able to fight that ANBU - Neko. If my skills with the sword had been better. If I had been just a little faster, it would have been even I think."

"Actually, wasn't it because you weren't strong enough?"

"Hnnn."

"Haku. Your arms are kinda scrawny." The blond reaches across the bed and squeezes his bicep, feeling a lot of tense muscle fight back at him, but not nearly as much as himself, "If you're gonna do kenjutsu, won't you need a lot more upper body strength?"

"Well, maybe not. If I can learn Hien and it works well with water, wind, or ice chakra, I can just empower whatever weapon I carry and rely on that..."

"I guess." He squeezes his arm again.

"Quit that!" He moves to swat Naruto's hand away, but he's just a hair too quick.

"Hah! You missed."

"Yes, well, you've gotten much faster since when we first met. And I've let my instinct dull some."

"Crazy. You're crazy! You're better than when I first fought you."

"Maybe." He looks away, "But I'd almost like it if I became a little, dull."

"Huh? What do you mean."

He sighs, "I don't think you can understand. But- I think I realized it back in the cave- with that thing- that man who claimed to be Zabuza- you remember. You even told me. That I'm not a weapon."

"Yeah, right. You're not."

"Well, what else can I do Naruto, but be someone's sword?"

"I dunno. You tell me? I mean, you're good with herbs and stuff. Actually, you need to teach me some more when we're on the road again..."

"Right. Herbs. Medicines. Plants. I know something about herbal medicine, but besides that, what else can I do?"

"Acupuncture?"

He huffs, "Are you making fun of me?"

"No, I'm serious."

"Well, I've never done it to anybody... I guess that could count. I do know certain sites that should relieve stress or pain."

"See? You're not just a sword."

"Thanks, but, I'm not convinced yet. I need- something else."

"How about cooking?"

"I'm no good at it, apparently."

"Your "Zabuza-sama" didn't care for your cooking?"

"No. He didn't."

"Eh, your rabbit tastes okay."

He shakes his head despondently, "Well then, what is it you want to do?"

"I don't know!"

A hand rests on his shoulder, "Relax. Sorry. Listen, if you want to do something that has nothing with killing people - that's fine. Great. Actually, I should probably find a hobby like that too, or I'll go crazy."

"There's no need for you to worry about that. You already are."

"Thanks."

"Beyond saving, too. Zabuza-sama was less maladaptive than you."

They grin, "So. Don't worry about it. Okay? You'll find something. There's probably something we can do tomorrow. I admit today was kind of stupid. Sitting around just thinking of ways to improve how we kill people. As much as I want to become strong, you- you can't do that by being cruel, by being obsessed. Last night? It made me sick when I burned that guy alive. He was in my dreams, begging me to stop, I swear. Good thing that dream is already so far away now. Learning flashy jutsu is fun, but- using them-" he pauses, "At least genjutsu can't kill people."

Haku nods dumbly, unaware of his friend's own issues. The hand leaves his shoulder, "Maybe we should just do something fun tomorrow? It was kind of dumb to get me involved in a mission last night. We've been running ourselves ragged since we got away from Wave. When was the last time you did anything fun? Did Zabuza even- I mean did he take you places?"

"Not really. Though he did take his time to relax in bars and brothels, those... aren't my kind of places."

"Yeah. Exactly. So you don't even know what to do for fun. It's pretty much the same for me. I've seen a few movies, played with some kids growing up, but it's not like I ever got to unwind much either. That's why I just pranked people, you know? I was bored. Stupid, bored, unfocused - I didn't know what to do with myself." Naruto pauses, "Hey, in the lobby earlier, there was that tourist board thing, right? By the front desk? I'll come back up with some pamphlets. I admit, I don't know how many people come to Ame for its tourism - this place is spooky and scary as hell. But there must be somethin' we can do for fun around here."

Mutual agreement settles it. Naruto stands and stretches, popping some joints, before tiredly striding outside.

"...I hope Ameyuri-sensei is okay."

---

A circus.

Not the kind of place Naruto would like to go to. He loved to prank as a child, but something always made him weary at the sight of animals in cages or bleached faces.

There's a morning show. So they rise at nine, rested. They leave at ten. The rain is especially light in the morning, but both carry black umbrellas through the drowsy town.

The grounds of the circus are composed of cracked pavement, a strange mixture of stones glued together with cement, poured onto a square lot. Grass fights back, sparse amounts breaking through the cracks, reclaiming whole sections in others. Water moves through the groves in the ground, settling into small puddles in the lowest spots.

An attendant greets them at the wooden gate. Naruto fishes out some money from his Gama-chan.

The two of them are lightly disguised, notably, Haku has a more girly look than ever today, his hair pulled back, long bangs wound behind his ears. His green kimono is pulled tighter - and Naruto isn't sure how he's managed the miracle, but a perky bosom fills the kimono now, making him seem like a really pretty girl. The blond has to resist the urge to constantly tease him (and poke).

"Is that a partial henge?"

"Perhaps."

"You should have changed your hair color too... somebody might still recognize us from the break-in."

"I doubt it. We just need to be careful to not attract attention."

Although they look similar to their male counter-parts, it was dark last night, Haku claims looking too different could arouse suspicion. Naruto can't wrap his head around the multiple layers of thinking, but he doesn't mind going with it, especially since he's sure the bigger players in Kaiu still are unaware of their small presence.

In revenge for subtly teasing the hyouton-users unmasculine appearance, Haku has insisted Naruto disguise himself as a girl too. So he has, though it's probably not nearly as uncomfortable. Naruto's amazing henge skills allow him to reproduce a physically convincing blonde; heavy breasts constricted by a tight blue kimono. He doesn't move in a lady-like manner, but he pulls off the voluptuous look fairly well, a teasing quirk to his glassy pink lips.

In spite of their current attire, the long-faced attendant doesn't even bat an eye as Naruto pays for them.

"Enjoy." He says after a moment where he just blanks out like a zombie.

The circus has cheap wooden stands along the left side, offering games and junk food. Since it's pretty early, most of the booths are closed or dead. There is a stand serving takoyaki, a rarity in Ame, so they purchase some, the two girls pleasantly sharing the chewy octopus balls between faint giggles.

Naruto has been giving some thought to Haku's desire to become proficient in something other than death. He's rattling off ideas in a sing-songy voice, taking advantage of his feminine disguise to giggle abundantly, finding it so funny that girls can just do whatever they want without seeming stupid.

Or maybe he's just a natural ditz?

"Flower pressing?"

"No."

"Fine, fine. I suppose that one is especially girlie." He hums, "You patched your coat really nicely, how about sewing?"

"What would I sew or knit?" He deadpans, "It's not like we're carrying a sewing machine around."

"Hn. I see your point. We can't wear sweaters or scarves either, they'd just get water-logged in this country. Besides, that stuff's fuckin' itchy, it's why I refused to wear em' as a kid. But how about, I don't know, like a sport? Like archery?"

"Archery can be a calming activity. Zabuza-sama used to talk about a clan of archers he knew in Kirgakure, but it's still too... martial."

"Hmm." They walk past a billboard for an advertised show on "fire eating" - Souzoki, the Amazing Fire Eater, present Saturday & Sunday for all evening events! "How about that?"

"Naruko, I'm not going to eat fire."

"You have to admit it would be cool."

"It's not a hobby."

"I guess not. How about, oh I know-"

"Let's drop it for now."

"Fine." He sighs. They stop and sit at a bench, gazing up at the dark cloudy sky. The circus is nearly deserted, they're the only two there, a cold breeze moving through. He kicks his shapely shins that dangle from the bench, scanning the paved lane back and forth, feeling sleepy from the void of excitement. The black rain just keeps coming down, killing his smile.

"Well. This is kind of lame."

"Not much of a circus, eh?"

"Makes you wonder how they keep this place going."

"It's probably better attended during the early afternoon and evening. And we are early."

"Well, the show starts in a little less than an hour." Naruto finishes his takoyaki, brushing his hands together to scatter the crumbs on the ground, "What do you want to do?" They see another couple moving through the grounds, chewing on some pink fluffy stuff Naruto can't name.

"Why don't you tell me more about this Sakura? The girl who was on your team. You seem to avoid the specifics."

"Really? You want to hear about her? It's not that interesting of a story. I admit I try not to think about her now."

"Of course. She was important to you, at one point. It must have hurt, for her to push you away."

"...I guess." He sighs, "Well, I guess I could tell you about her. It's kind of hard. Like- I don't know. I don't really understand why I liked her so much. Maybe it was just how we first met. She was really nice to me back then, but I admit it's a fuzzy memory now. All I can really remember now is that terrified look she gave me before we parted ways..."

Naruto tells Haku about his memories of Sakura. They range from sweet to sickening. Haku reasons that someone may have poisoned her against him over time, though the blonde is far more willing blame his eagerness and zest in pushing friendship, and then, frenzied romance, onto her.

"Besides, at least I had friends growing up. Even if they were short-lived friendships... you just had Zabuza."

"That's not entirely true. Before I left with him, I knew a few boys. I don't remember anything about them now, but we played together, I know that much."

"What about after?"

"After I left? We didn't really stay long in one place. Also, I'm a bit of an oddity among missing-nin. We never encountered anyone, let alone my age, that we could risk getting to know better. But don't worry, I was mostly happy. I never considered myself as alone."

"If you say so."

Naruto slumps in his seat, yawning. Worries float from his head. He feels strangely at peace as he stares at the rain pellets crashing against the hard ground.

---

The room is ideal for giving mission details. It's large, dispersing sound far from the door in the way back, yet everyone huddles very close to the front, standing around a tall wooden podium, leaving very little elbow room. The Sandaime Hokage stands with his hands behind his back, his dimpled face glowing with a smile.

Of the maybe two or three jounin he expected to see at the meeting, there are seven.

"Welcome." He says finally, "I imagine no one else will be coming." He looks away sadly, "We are no longer in the company of our most chronically late jounin, after all."

Everyone in the room turns somber at that, an uncomfortable silence disrupting the flow. But everyone has already dealt with it in their own way. They seem to push the feelings out of their bodies easily after the flash of uneasy smiles.

Asuma. Kurenai. Anko. Gai. Tenzou. Yuugao. Ebisu. They're split into two groups, Asuma, Kurenai, Gai and Anko staring at Yuugao, Ebisu and Tenzou. The two groups seem to be sizing each other up curiously, each wearing looks of confusion or amusement.

"In a way, this mission is related to the death of Hatake Kakashi."

Everyone's attention is focused with those words, "How? I thought we were volunteering our genin teams to a make-up exam in Rain. What's he got to do with..." Kurenai trails off, "But, wait. I know for a fact Uzuki-san does not have a genin team." She glares heatedly at Ebisu, "Nor that man." Ebisu flinches at her tone, offering a defenseless smile.

"Now, now, Yuuhi-san." The old man chuckles, "Ebisu-san is wonderful with children, despite your complaints against him many moons ago. He is my grandson's private tutor and has been for many months now. While he does not have a team, he will have one, very soon."

"I see."

Ebisu's voice is nasally, "Keep your prejudices in-check, would you? I am an elite, not a pedophile. Enjoying the finer things in life does not make one a pervert."

"That still doesn't explain anything." She mutters under her breath.

Asuma just laughs, Ebisu's face collapsing into a pitiful sneer. He keeps a stiff upper lip after receiving Kurenai's glare, keeping his spine straight like a rod, one arm bent at his chest.

Sarutobi shakes his head, "Anyway." He clears his throat, "Yes, you are in the right room at the right time. For everyone's benefit, I will put it simply: Amegakure no Sato is up to something big. This mission can involve any of you, whether you officially have genin teams or not. You are all well aware, I'm sure, that the exams have always been fierce political games." He steps away, taking a map off the podium and unrolling it. He turns and presses it into the white wall previously behind him, which it sticks to, "This will be no different and vastly so, at the same time."

The map is of the entire country, with special detail paid to specific trails and paths that lead to the village itself. It looks quite old, given its wear around the yellowed edges. The map focuses on routes that can be easily accessed from Fire Country, one such route is highlighted in transparent pink marker, snaking along the southern border, taking a sharp turn north toward the village in the center of the country. Other routes are labelled by special signs. Only one route has a descriptive title, "Emergency." Which is the most obvious route in Rain, along its main road through a dense jungle. It is highlighted in gossamer blue.

"They are hosting some kind of tournament or exams, though it's tempting to call it a "chuunin exams", it's never named as such. The missive was vague and the messenger had no other details to spare for us. It will occur in little less than a month. Although they do not use the words genin or chuunin, they do suggest it could suffice for rank advancement. There are no requirements for entering, besides filling out the proper forms. Shinobi villages are limited on how many teams they can send."

Asuma interrupts, "They're within their rights to hold a chuunin exam, Hokage-sama. Even if they haven't done one before, why skate around it? Is this something else? Or are they implying this will work as normal?"

"As you all know, Konohagakure was selected to hold the official exams this spring, but I was forced to decline the offer after... news of Hatake-san's demise reached me." He sighs, "There are many reasons for that. But due to the cancellation being so close to the deadline, no other country is prepared to hold the exams, officially. Amegakure is, on the surface, trying to capitalize on that oddity. But because it's still an unsanctioned, hastily announced exam, villages will be wary to send their teams - it could be and likely is some degree of a trap, after all. There is no ratified agreement. There aren't even any foreign officials that are being invited to watch the exams. They specifically requested jounin and their teams of entrants."

"So it assuredly is a trap."

"Likely, yes. If Hanzou the Salamander wants to ignite war with all of its neighbors. Something has happened to bolster his confidence, or perhaps he's simply desperate to demonstrate his dominance." He pauses, "That man never approved of the end of the Second World War, so it's also just possible he doesn't want to make his own exam official and this is all benign."

Anko laughs madly, "Sounds like fun."

"If it's a trap, which it probably is, why are we going?" Kurenai whines under her breath.

Sarutobi nods tiredly, "Indeed. I have no doubt it will be exciting, whatever becomes of this scheme. I honestly am not sure what Hanzou is thinking, besides flexing his muscles or hoping to start something. We have very little intelligence on Ame. Jiraiya-kun, Konoha's leading intelligence expert, has refused to move deep within the country until just recently. All of our intelligence on the village proper comes from outlying towns and travelling merchants from the area."

"So we're going in blind."

"No, not entirely. But I will explain that in a moment. Firstly, I want to clear up the misconceptions here - although this mission does have much to do with genin teams advancing in rank or getting a healthy amount of experience in unfriendly territory, this assignment is one I have personally commissioned as Sarutobi Hiruzen of the Sarutobi Clan. Under normal circumstances, I would not even consider acknowledging Hanzou's exams as legitimate, hurting that man's image in the world. I would do this because for all of Hanzou's strength, he is paralyzed in his country; he cannot attack us, even if provoked. Even as desperate as he must be, he knows igniting the flames of war will accelerate his demise as dictator."

Asuma stares wide at his father, "So why is this personal? Why take the pointless risk?"

"It all comes back to Hatake-san and Team Seven." Sarutobi admits, "As you might be aware, Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura have been barred from speaking of the mission that cost the lives of Hatake Kakashi and Uzumaki Naruto. What you do not know, is that Uzumaki Naruto is alive."

"What?!" A few combined reactions, though Tenzou, Asuma and Yuugao are stiff as a board. It's noticed by the others.

A slight smile blooms on the glossy lips of Kurenai.

"The details on Team Seven's failed mission will be given to those jounin who accept this assignment, because it pertains directly to the real nature of your mission."

Kurenai says softly, "Naruto-san is in Amegakure?"

"Yes."

Kurenai's ringed eyes close for but a moment. She nods stiffly, "Hokage-sama, I accept the mission."

Asuma looks stunned at the woman beside him. But his father just laughs.

"Let's not be hasty, you will all be given a chance to accept once I am finished briefing you." He clears his throat, "This mission is exceedingly dangerous, Ame is in a cold civil war. Though it seems to be heating up..." he looks over at Tenzou.

The man speaks up, "Uzuki Yuugao and I attempted to retrieve Uzumaki Naruto on the border closest to Ame no Kuni and Hi no Kuni, but we were deterred by active in-fighting among renegade shinobi in Ame and standing police-nin. Our teams were impeded and with the aid of an A-ranked nukenin, Uzumaki-san retreated deeper into the country."

"A missing-nin?" Anko scoffs, "You're saying he's got help. Or is he being held hostage?"

"We are not exact on the details." Yuugao supplies, "But the woman is powerful, she is one of the standing Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Ameyuri Ringo. She appears to have taken a liking to Naruto. There seems to be some kind of misunderstanding, or at least, it is well-known now that Naruto-san has not been well treated by much of Konoha, for most of his life. He willingly follows her and I assume she is teaching him, given how he performed in battle."

Kurenai flattens her lips into a line. Anko hums boredly, "I met the brat once. You're saying he's a missing-nin now, Hokage-sama? That he's in league with one of the Seven Swordsmen? That's tough shit to swallow. Isn't he a bit of a dork?"

Asuma rubs his forehead, disturbed by the odd details.

"That cannot yet be fully determined, Anko-san, it's just a theory." The Hokage responds darkly, "Whether Naruto follows of his own volition, or his mind poisoned by the loss of his teacher and team, or any other possibility, is irrelevant. I think you know of at least one reason why I cannot and will not label Naruto-kun as a missing-nin."

Asuma squares his broad shoulders, "As my little Nara would say, this sounds like a rather troublesome mission you're proposing. Do you even know where the brat is? If he doesn't want to come home and he's not a missing-nin what exactly do you expect us to do?"

"You will be fully authorized to use whatever force or means necessary to bring him home, with or without his consent, of course. While I will not officially label him as an enemy or resource of Konoha to capture, he has been stubborn enough I have labeled him as one of our own acting insubordinately. He has committed enough minor offenses that you're within justification to injure him if that proves necessary for capture." He stops, "I'm overstepping my bounds as Hokage, trampling over many of the guidelines I have created over my lifetime, but this is an existential circumstance." He breathes deep, "But yes, you are correct, we have no intelligence on where his current whereabouts are or what he intends to accomplish in Rain. Or what Ameyuri Ringo is doing there either."

"So he could just be hiding in a cave somewhere while we blindly stumble around in hostile territory..." Ebisu murmurs.

"Tch." Anko taps her foot, "So, you want us to go to this sham of an exam in Ame, on the fucking hopes we'll just run into him there? Or are you expecting us to go searching through the countryside while our little birdies sit around defenseless in a hotel somewhere...? Does this backwater country even have a decent dango shop or two? You honestly can't expect this to work."

"Jiraiya is on his way to Ame right now. Actually, he should already be within the country. I have specifically tasked him with finding Naruto's trail. He will find him. And if he does not before the exams, which seems likely at this point, I am almost certain that boy will be in attendance. He wouldn't be able to resist that kind of draw, I know he wants to test himself. There are many rewards for completing in the exams, even as missing-nin - Hanzou has an exotic set of rules in play." He chuckles, "And I do believe they serve dango in Rain."

Anko grins blithely, licking her lips, "Ah, but you're not at all finished are you? What's the real catch?"

"I don't think it gets any worse than this, Anko." Kurenai sighs, "We have no intelligence and we'll have the immense difficulty of protecting our genin from practically anything."

"I'm afraid it does get worse, Kurenai-chan. The catch is that Hanzou is limiting teams from each village to four. So, if all of you accept, you will need to disguise you and your team as ninja attending from other villages. I have already secured the aid of our closest ally, Takigakure. They will allow one of our teams to masquerade as their own, but that would still leave us with only five potential teams..."

"Do we really need all seven of us?" Asuma speaks up, "If the nature of this mission is to capture Naruto, then what? Why are you sending all of us? It's unnecessary. Hanzou will conclude we are conducting some sort of assassination and everything will escalate badly from there."

Sarutobi glares at his son, "I sent two teams full of ANBU, Asuma. Tenzou-san and Yuugao-san are highly skilled and competent, yet they failed. I cannot risk failure on this mission. It is of-" he shakes his head, "You make good points, of course, and we will need to plan carefully to avoid sparking a deeper misunderstanding in Rain, but! I don't take these risks just to retake an important military asset. Uzumaki Naruto is not only the jinchuuriki of the nine-tails, but he is so much more - he is something the Fourth entrusted to me. He is a symbol! A symbol of hope and of fear; of the things I have ignored blissfully while in office and of the great sacrifices others have made to ensure my dream of peace. He is a responsibility I have utterly failed until now. It's only after so much investigation these last few weeks that I am fully beginning to understand why Naruto has left us without a thought. I have squandered incredible potential for our future, by letting him slip through my fingers." He walks back to the podium, lifting up Naruto's former headband, letting it drop with a metallic slap, "Uzumaki Naruto is still at large. That should be enough to convince you this is all necessary. Konoha hunter-nin and ANBU have failed to return him, so now I am left with little choce. I am being deathly serious about this. It is either this mission succeeds, or... I will take drastic action. I have considered going to war with Rain to get him back, even if I suspect, and hope, Hanzou has yet to learn of the boy being in his territory." He shakes his head, "Do you understand? Thanks to you..." he opens his hands, "Here you all are. Seven jounin. Not just any seven, either." He scans the room, locking eyes with Gai, who is being oddly stoic, a great fire in his eyes, "Seven of the best Konoha has to offer, plus Jiraiya. I am committing a significant amount of Konoha's resources to this to ensure there is no possibility of failure. But think on this - if I did not loathe war as much as I do, we would not be having this conversation now. We would already be marching to take him back."

The glasses-wearing shinobi steps forward, his cool facade slipping, "Respectfully, Naruto is just a failure. Your grandson has shown more potential in the last three weeks than him. That boy barely passed the academy..." Ebisu says indifferently, "I understand this is personal for you, Sarutobi-sama, I might even consider his use as a symbol for Konoha or a potential dog of war. But this seems... excessive. Would we really go to war? I can't believe you even talked me into coming here. Something isn't adding up, there's way more at stake, for you to be this concerned over one genin. Even if you do not declare war, our presence may start it anyway."

Hiruzen closes his eyes. His lips twitch. But then he doesn't say anything, as if holding himself back.

"There are obviously more details to the story." He begins, "Those details can only be allowed for those who accept the mission."

Everyone opens their mouths to reply, but he raises his palm, "Let me finish. As I have reiterated, this is a personal mission. Konoha herself does not need to see this done, even if Naruto is a potential asset of great use to it, there may be other opportunities in the future. The risks are significantly high, as all of you care for critical assets to this village as well. Our genin are not pawns in all of this; their lives will be jeopardized while on this mission. If you refuse this assignment, I will not take it as a personal offense, neither will you be shaming anyone. As serious as I am about this, I do not want guilty help, I only want those with the drive to succeed to be involved. Secondly, because this is a personal mission, I am prepared to pay greatly. Although I said yesterday it would be an A-ranked mission, I did that only because I was making a public announcement. This mission is actually S-Ranked. You and your genin will be paid in one lump sum for completing this mission, with a little advanced to purchase supplies before you go."

"Genin on an S-ranked mission, huh?" Anko grinds her hands together excitedly, her long tongue lapping at her lubricated lips.

"In addition, I am extending the graciousness of the Sarutobi clan. As this is something deeply important to me, I will offer whatever it is you and you genin desire personally. Consider it one favor to another." He explains simply, "If you need six months off after this mission, consider it done. If you would like a yacht to laze around in Wave Country with," he looks at Asuma, who blushes, "-I will do my best to provide it. If you want to pawn your brats-" he grins wide as his son grins back playfully, "-to some other jounin, I won't even make you sign any paperwork. Whatever is within my power, I will provide it."

And considering Sarutobi Hiruzen is one of the most powerful shinobi in the world, that means quite a lot.

Anko nods, "So, if I were to ask you for Nai-chan's hand in marriage...?"

"Anko!"

Hiruzen laughs heartily, "I'm afraid I could only highly recommend she accept your proposal, Mitarashi-chan. As her commander, I can't force her to become betrothed to you."

"What about Asuma-kun then?"

"Ankoo!"

"Now now, you know he doesn't do anything I tell him to either."

He doesn't even blush at that. He keeps smirking, looking to his side. Kurenai won't meet his eyes.

Tenzou interrupts, his voice flat, "Is that all, Hokage-sama?"

"Yes. I believe it is, for now. Are you all prepared to make your decisions? We have a little time, yet, you can still talk things over with your genin if you have not. It is as much their decision as it is-"

"I accept." Kurenai grunts.

"I accept." Anko is the second, her arm snaking around the curvy brunette, who pushes on Anko's shoulder with an annoyed moan.

"I accept." Asuma says, glaring at Kurenai, his voice lowering to a whisper, "You didn't talk to your team, why are you accepting so easily?" She stares straight ahead, ignoring his words for now, her hands wrestling with Anko, "Are they ready for this?"

"I accept." Tenzou steps forward, a warm glaze in his dark eyes.

"I accept." Yuugao says.

"I... accept." Ebisu says grudgingly, "Against my own intuition, you did convince me about Konohamaru-kun's merits. As foolhardy as this is, I cannot deny what has transpired."

Gai says finally, thumping his chest with the heel of his hand, "I accept."

The Hokage beams proudly, but his smile dies swiftly, "I am happy you are all so enthusiastic to help me." He chuckles, "If I could, I would take the boy back myself." He turns around and takes down the map of Ame, "But, I can rest easy for now, knowing I have all of you to help me with this."

"It's nothing Hokage-sama. I think some of us would like to help Naruto-san as well. It is fair to say your failure is a shared one." Yuugao bows from the waist.

Sarutobi nods, "Respectfully, I agree. Well, there are many, many more details to cover. You will return with your genin teams tonight. There is much to brief you on, from what we know of Naruto and his movements, to the movements of other missing-nin within the country. Nevermind you all need to be caught up on the civil war in Ame and what we know so far. As well as a secondary objective I have received from Takigakure for their aid in all this." He clears his throat, "But you're all dismissed for now. I don't think I need to tell you to keep this only among yourselves and your genin? Remind them that the knowledge of Uzumaki Naruto is to remain on a need-to-know basis and only to those on or related to this assignment." He pauses, "I don't think I need to tell you that you will need to step up your training. You and your teams will be leaving in three days. Give them at least one day of full rest, but use as much time as you can today and tomorrow preparing them. They can expect to fight in constant rain and harsh civillian environments, against enemy combatants of any size, density and skill level."

"That's a tall order." Asuma sighs.

"Indeed." Sarutobi nods, glancing at Ebisu, "Have the Konohamaru corps in my office in an hour, Ebisu-san."

A hand over the man's heart, "It is as you command, Hokage-sama!" He glances away, murmuring slyly, "Though I think they will be over here far sooner than that when I mention what you are up to..."

"Anko-san. Tenzou-san."

Anko and Tenzou step forward, sharing a glance, as the other jounin shuffle out of the room, excitedly chatting among themselves.

"Because both of you have... apprenticeships... we are in an interesting situation. Hanzou's rules do not stipulate that teams must consist of more than one person."

They share a look, nodding.

"There are some possibilities. I am hesitant to consider them as my dear friend, Shimura-san, has so kindly offered some of his... personally trained "genin" for this mission." The old man looks a little sick, but he quells the look immediately, "There are also others who can be passed off as genin. Would you like to have a team selected, or...?"

Tenzou nods, "I will think on it, Hokage-sama. Uchiha-san could use some teamwork training, he is still progressing slower than I'd prefer, so it might be a good change of pace... could you give me the list of candidates?"

"I can."

Anko hums in thought, "Give me a list too, but I doubt I'll want any of em'. They'll just be a negative influence on my cute hime."

Tenzou actually scoffs, his tone playful, "Do you really believe yourself so pure, Mitarashi-san?"

"Pure in what manner, sweetums?" Anko sings, "I know I'm a pure masochist. Sometimes, a pure bitch."

"Nevermind."

"Good boy." She pats his head. Tenzou gives her a hideous smile.

---

There's one massive red and white tent, the biggest Naruto has ever seen. It's supported by two giant silver poles, dozens of ropes draping from it. The ground is made mostly of grass and dirt, wooden panels covering it, where shallow bucket-seats are arranged in a rigid octagonal shape. The smells assaulting his nose aren't too pleasant, but there's a much bigger crowd than he anticipated. He and Haku take seats near the front, chatting quietly as others gather around them. Children, families and young couples are the kinds visitors that murmur in the cool air, their umbrellas collapsing.

In the center of the center of the low-lying stage, stands a young red-head. She has bright green eyes and fiery red hair. For a moment he almost thinks it's Tayuya.

A gold-threaded, crimson qipao drapes over rounded shoulders. It's split high up the sides of creamy mellow skin, pinching at a tight waist.

Haku watches as Naruto just stares ahead with a glazed look. It looks much cuter since his features are now softer and radiantly feminine. Naruko looks bewitched, nearly smitten. As entrancing as it looks, Haku nudges him in the shoulder, donning a slight frown.

"You were staring."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Do you have a thing for redheads?" he whispers, smirking as Naruto sputters, shaking his head furiously, long blonde hair going everywhere.

"Calm down. Stop being so sensitive. I was kidding." He hushes. Naruto does reluctantly, the lights dimming as the tent flaps close.

The redhead is an announcer, her voice and stature suggesting she's about sixteen.

"Welcome! Welcome!" she waves for the crowd, "Welcome to the show." There's some weak clapping, the teen bowing, "I'm Magari, your host. Thanks for coming everyone!"

"She certainly has charisma." Haku observes, watching the careful grace in which she moves. She's good enough to hide her skills, but Haku just has too much experience. He whispers into Naruko's ear, "She's a ninja."

"Not surprising." He mumbles back, transfixed by her slight movements. She carries herself well, not wasting any energy.

She walks over to a giant wheel, a huge spotlight striking it. It's purple, with a lustrous red spiral moving towards the middle.

"We always have a random show." She explains, "That way, you'll always experience something different! Come see us again and again, we promise to entertain like no other while we're here!" She presses her hands against the edge of the large wheel, "I'm going to spin this big wheel, which also spins a smaller wheel in the middle! When the two stop, it will determine what our first act will be!"

And with an impressive amount of strength for such a slight tug of her hand, the wheel spins out of control, a smaller spiraling wheel moving counterclockwise inside it. It's extremely dizzying and hypnotic to watch, the red and purple merging into bands of color. But they eventually slow to a crawl. Dramatically, the larger pointer lines up with the hair of a strange symbol that looks like a snake eating itself, the one in the middle is a jagged fist.

"Oh! It looks like we have an exciting challenge on our hands. For our first act, Momoji Yusuke will be wrestling with our resident boa constrictor! Everyone give them a hand!"

Naruto looks blankly to the pretty girl beside him, "Wrestling a snake?" Naruto laughs weakly, "Sounds crazy."

Everyone claps excitedly as the redhead walks out of the spotlight, which shifts, pointing at a young kid - someone who looks no older than ten. He's the very definition of an orphan, from Naruto's experienced gaze. He's clumsy, slow, his orange hair wild and his skin clothes ragged and mud-stained.

The redhead returns, wheeling in a large metal cage full of snakes. One of them is huge, with a mottled turqoise coat, black bands moving up its scaly flesh. It seems to recognize Yusuke, as its head lashes out at him, baring its arching fangs.

"You think he'll be alright?" Naruto mumbles worriedly.

"Well, I would expect him to be at least comfortable doing this, but it is random, right?" Haku sounds unsure.

"He's kind of young."

But there isn't much time for discussion, Magari lifts up the door to the cage, three snakes slithering free. She leaps away as they attack young Yusuke. The orange-haired boy stares them down with fear in his eyes. The two small turquoise snakes ensnare his ankles, wrapping tightly around them, while the larger one leaps at him from low on the ground. Pouncing like a cat, it coils itself around his chest, underneath his arms.

"Go Yusuke!" Magari shouts in the distance, the spotlight on the star.

The kid seems to have some kind of kekkai genkai, or at least, has been training for flexibility since he was born. He bends and twists as the snake crushes his torso, winding upwards around him. It tries to (with scary intelligence) bind his arms at his sides, but he just can't seem to, elbows warping in awkward ways. The boy is able to resist being suffocated, one hand pulling on the snake's body, leaving him room to breathe, while the other wrestles with its head, pushing on it while he bends his neck around its fangs.

The crowd watches in tense silence, Yusuke's hand working its way around the part of the snake holding his torso. He does something, pressing his thumb into a bone or nerve in the snake, which cause it to hiss in pain and loosen its hold. He slips out, breathing heavily, but the snake returns with fury, tackling him to the ground with its superior mass. Its mouth is detaching from its body, jaw widening to swallow his head, as he pushes on its head with one hand.

"Holy shit- Yusuke!" Naruto shouts, "Haku, we should-" but Haku puts a hand on blue kimono, holding him back, quieting him without a word. Only a few heads turn at the girl's outburst.

The boy actually exhausts the snake, holding it still for a very long thirty seconds. It eventually gives up, looking dejected. Yusuke picks up the cowed thing and returns it to its cage, expertly removing the small snakes still humping his ankles. The door shuts with a metal clank, signalling an applause.

"Pretty badass kid." Naruto says as Yusuke tiredly pushes the cage out of the tent, Magari entering the spotlight once more.

"How was that everyone? Yusuke sure is talented isn't he? He's our resident beast charmer." She giggles, "Though he charms them through force, not song." She walks back to the wheel, the light following her, "Are you all ready for a second spin? Let's hope we get something a little less nerve-wracking this time!"

When the wheel stops a second time, it lands on feet and a flame.

"Oh! My favorite." Magari bows, "Looks like I'll be performing for you all. Hin-kun, could you come in for a sec, I'm going to need your help with this one."

Hin is an old man, but he walks with a quick gait despite his bad-looking back, his body dressed in old black robes. He carries a small bag of black ash with him, spreading it around on the dusty stage floor, spilling it over patches of dirt and grass.

He forms an odd design, rings within rings, looping and spiralling around. Haku studies it carefully - it looks highly organized, though he can't tell if it's simply artistry, or something greater.

Magari steps into the center of the scattered, piled ashes, singing, "Thanks for your patience everyone!" She smiles a familiar smile. Haku can see a little bit of Naruto's boisteriousness in that look, her cheeks pulled wide apart.

"I can see why you like her."

"Huh? Who said I liked her."

"It's written all over your face."

Naruko looks away, hiding a bright pink blush.

"Alright, I'm ready!"

The old man nods and pulls out a match, striking it. He drops it on the ground and hops away deftly. The ash catches on fire quickly, giant purple flames rising up, the fire travelling almost instantaneously, its speed of ignition across the substance incredible.

For a demonstration, the old man drops a scrap of paper into the flames, which burns instantly, creating a thin plume of smoke.

For the never several minutes, Magari dances. She leaps over the flames, landing perfectly on her toes. Her movements are brilliant, her long legs whipping at the fire, her toes making it bow before her.

Haku is quiet, his eyes wide in awe.

Even Naruto can appreciate the beauty in her perfect technique.

Eventually, the fires die out. In perfect timing as well, dying all at once when she lands in the middle of the stage after an impressive twirling leap. Even for a shinobi, she's nimble and acrobatic. Haku can tell they haven't scratched the surface of that agility.

The audience claps as she bows.

The next hour passes, several performers walking on stage. From juggling poisonous, fiery blades, to crossing tightropes with just one's arms.

When it's over, everyone seems delighted. The lights go up and the tent clears.

"Well, that was interesting." Haku whispers as they shuffle from their seat, "Yeah. Did you enjoy Magari's dancing?"

He hums, "I suppose I did."

"Maybe that's what you should do? As a hobby I mean."

Haku nods as they stand outside the tent, opening their umbrellas to the drizzle, "Maybe."

"Do you think we should go see that girl? Ask her for some tips? Don't you wonder where she learned how to dance like that?" He adds finally, "She seemed kinda suspicious to me too..."

"Do you think this circus is run by Hanzou?" Haku mutters.

"It doesn't feel like it's got his fingers in it, no."

"So Akatsuki?"

"Could be."

Haku grins, "Or maybe you just want to talk with her?"

"I-it's not like that. I swear."

"Hai hai. But I agree, let's see if we can find her. Not like we have much else to do now..."

The two pretty girls wander around the large wet tent. In the back, there are dozens of performers lounging about.

A young man approaches them, "Hello. Can I help you?"

There isn't anything remarkable about him. He has messy blond hair and is dressed in solid white - tightly stitched pants and a loose tank top. He's muscular, for a civilian, but his stance isn't threatening.

"Hi." Naruko's voice is bubbly, "I'm Naruko and this is Haku-chan. We loved Magari-chan's performance." He giggles, his breasts jiggling at the quick vibrations of his lungs, "Can we talk to her?"

The blond's eyes are buried in Naruko's breasts. All it takes is a gentle push from Haku, his breasts rubbing against the man's arm, for the guy to cave with a bashful, incoherent pickup line.

"Thanks, Onii-san." Naruko waves, boldly walking across the grass.

Most of the performers are congregated over tall stationary bamboo umbrellas or pole-supported tents. A few hold their own personal umbrellas as they care for caged animals, which react to the strange feminine presence.

Yusuke, the threadbare animal tamer is tending one of the caged cats, foot his hands, when they walk past. Naruko introduces herself to him, briefly complimenting his skills.

The boy is soft-spoken and unsure of himself. He perks up when someone approaches them and dashes away; the strangers' presence of mind redirected.

Magari, who appears to be one of the few in charge, approaches them. Her hips swing as she walks, her green eyes a little dangerous.

"Hi. Can I help you two?"

Naruko laughs, "Sorry, but we had to just say, your performance rocked!" Naruto has been reminding himself to stay in character, so he manages to hold back a few enthusiastic expletives.

Haku is much quieter, "I appreciated your dance, Magari-san."

She nods, pink lips and round cheeks lifting in a dim smile, "That's nice of you two to say. I do appreciate it, but I'm afraid you're going to have to go. You're not allowed back here."

"We understan-"

"Hey, hold up Haku." Naruko raises his hand, "Haku's my friend. And h-she's kind of looking for a new hobby." He finishes lamely, "We were wondering, yanno? Could you help her out? She's really amazing, but a little down. So I'd appreciate it if you could... offer some advice or something?"

The girl gazes with a skeptical lift of her eyes, studying Haku with a slight frown, "Um, you'd like to learn how to dance?"

"I suppose it's a bit forward." Haku bows his head, "You were very graceful."

"Given the way you two walk, I'd say the same about you."

Naruto blinks.

Haku swallows. He glances over at Naruto, "I see. I suppose we have a slight problem now."

"Nah, just leave, and we won't have any such problem."

"I see."

Naruto huffs, "Listen lady, we're not... well... with them." But before Naruto can say more, Haku shoves an elbow into Narutos' side. He lets out a particular unlady-like sound, something between a burp and a painful, garbled hollar, "Haku! Why'd you do that for?"

"You just can't go around telling people who we're...with." He sighs, looking apologetic, "My sincerest apologies. We'll be leaving now."

Magari snickers, "Oh, it's alright. I think. But now you've got me curious. I almost believe you." She taps her chin, eyes on Naruko, "You two couldn't be working for... them."

"Uh, right." Naruto nods, "Of course we aren't."

She grins, "They aren't capable of being sublime. They're too confident for that."

Haku sighs, "Really, Naruto? Do I have to go over the basics a third time with you?"

"Sorry. Maybe you should? I swear I'll get this right eventually. But look, she's not mad. It worked out. I knew we could all be nice to each other." He pauses, "Also, I think it would make it the fourth time."

"Well, you did pull it off for a little bit." Haku shakes his head, trying hard not to smile, "Even if you make a lousy girl."

"Yeah! Well, you make an even lousier girl."

Magari clutches her ribs, "You two are boys? Oh, no wonder." She giggles, "Are you looking for work? We could use a comedy routine."

"No, uh, nothing like that." Naruto says with sudden seriousness, his feminine tone dropping a few octaves while he still maintains the henge, "But um, you wouldn't happen to be with Akatsuki, would you?"

"Akatsuki?" She looks past the girls, before leveling with them, her voice dark and dry, "No. I can't say I am."

"Then we owe you another apology." Haku bows his head once more.

"It's no trouble. Are you looking for a group called that?"

"No, we aren't. Not exactly. We just assumed... that well, you are shinobi." Haku murmurs, dispensing with formality, "This circus is interesting. I'm curious how it operates right under... their nose, as I suspect... well, you know." He trails off, "But it isn't any of our business."

"No, you're right. It isn't." She nods, "But since you asked so nicely, we are able to operate because we hide in plain sight." She smirks, "We have some pretty talented members, who are quite capable of redirecting people who get suspicious. It also helps a lot of them are incompetent."

"I see. It must be handy to have such people."

"Of course." She puts a hand on her hip.

"Anyway. I was serious about Haku. He totally wants to learn how to dance from you. Would you have the time or... is that..."

"I don't really need to learn how to dance. It was just a passing thought. Though it might be nice, I'm sure I will find some other thing I can do... eventually." He chuckles, "If I truly am not simply a weapon, we will find something."

"What's this about? A weapon?"

"It's nothing really. Just, doubts of mine. It is a long story."

"It's not that long. D'ya wanna hear about it? I bet it'll be a legend one of these days. You know, we're going to become the next Sannin!"

"The next Sannin?"

"Is there an echo around here?"

Magari restrains a giggle.

"We really should keep our profile down for a little while, Naruto. It would be best if you didn't-"

"Hey, it's fine, alright? I get it. I'm not gonna start any fights or nothin'. I just want to... tell another shinobi. Don't you wanna hear about us Magari-chan?"

She hums, but there's a thick look of worry in her green eyes, "I do like hearing stories..."

"Then it's settled!" His fingers bite down on Haku's and Magari's arms, pulling them underneath one of the white and red striped tents. There's a white wooden bench planted in the grass. He plops them down and starts talking.

"Right, so do you know where the Land of Waves are?"

"I've already heard this story. Remember? I'm in it."

"Not you! I mean Magari-chan."

"Then don't glare at me when you ask a question."

The redhead giggles, her hands seated in her lap. She adjusts her qipao as she nods pleasantly, "Yes, we're a travelling circus after all. Six months out of the year, we're outside Ame. I have been to the Land of Waves once..."

"Great. Well, I was a genin from Konohagakure no Sato. I'm Naruto, by the way." He points at himself, frowning as he glances at his breasts, "Well, I'd show you what I really look like, but it's probably better if I don't."

Haku nods, smiling cheekily, "First smart thing you've said yet."

"Anyway, we were assigned our first C-ranked mission and left the village. I was with Sasuke-teme, the last Uchiha, and Sakura-chan, this pretty... kinda mean girl I grew up with. Anyway, our mission was to escort this asshole to the Land of Waves so he could build a bridge. Tazuna-san, I guess? Yeah, that was it." Naruto animatedly moves his hands around, describing the lengths and heights of things, using his now folded black umbrella as a tool to represent the sour-puss that was Uchiha Sasuke.

"So yeah, we fought the Demon of the Mist and Haku over here. They're from Kiri and this businessman had hired them to kill us so a bridge couldn't be built that would inevitably restore Wave's independence."

"Until Gatou simply hired a demolition crew to blow it up..." Haku mumbles, "I don't really understand why he was so adamant about us fighting you. He should have taken the path of least resistance."

"Eh, he was an idiot. And it was probably all just a symbol anyway. 'Cause you know, symbols are powerful. If we had built that bridge, we would have proven that Gatou wasn't invincible. And people might have rebelled against him even if he had just destroyed it later. Actually..."

Magari nods, "Indeed, symbols are important in maintaining power."

"Yep. That's why we're gonna become the Sannin."

Haku observes dryly, "So that's your line of thinking?"

"Yeah. I was thinking that... we can't possibly win a civil war all by ourselves. We need a symbol. We need to become a symbol. So even if we can't beat Hanzou, it might tip things in our favor. It might be all this place needs. It could be just like Wave - remember how the villagers there stood up to Gatou's men at the end?"

"Wait, are you talking about fighting Hanzou the Salamander?"

"The Amekage guy right?" Naruto nods, "Yep. That's what we're gonna do."

"According to Naruto anyway." Haku comments miserably, "Really, I've think you've told her more than enough."

"Yeah. Maybe I've said too much, Magari-chan. But we aren't gonna become a symbol if I don't tell anybody, right?"

"I suppose you do have some point there, but it is still too soon to call ourselves the next Sannin, Naruto. We don't even have a third member yet."

Naruto huffs, "Yes, yes, but enough interruptions. I at least want to tell Magari-chan..." he stops here, realizing he can't easily tell the final part of the story, how the Kyuubi woke inside him, "...That I killed Zabuza, The Demon of the Mist, after he killed my sensei with his huge sword... and then my teammates left and I decided to go with Haku- and we've been all over since then."

The redhead frowns, "Wait, you told me things had been going okay for your team. Why would you leave your home village and join up with a missing-nin you barely knew?"

"Barely knew? Hah, Haku and I were best buds all along!"

His 'best bud' chuckles, "Naruto is very trusting and I admit he is good company, despite his odd habits. We are... perhaps it's fate. I don't know."

Naruto leans into the boy, their breasts squeezing against each other as he helps him off the bench. The blonde is oblivious to it though, he just smiles brightly, holding Haku's hands, "We're best friends of course. How couldn't we be... I mean... we just get each other." He sighs, "Maybe that sounds stupid to you?"

"No, it sounds beautiful."

"Really? Beautiful huh? To me, it's just logical. In Konoha, nobody really liked me. I was an outcast, so it just made sense - Haku was an outcast too. So we just clicked." He releases those soft hands and faces the rain, not noticing Haku's shy smile, "As for Sasuke and Sakura, I imagine they're much happier without me. They're probably with a new sensei and a new teammate. Kakashi-sensei was funny, wise, strong and all, but he wasn't a good teacher. If how our first mission turned out was any indication, we were doomed even if we had survived. I bet you that Sasuke's learning so much now that I can't hold him back. And since I'm not bugging Sakura anymore, maybe she'll realize there are other people out there and she doesn't need that asshole."

It's there that he concludes his story, his hands clapping together. He turns around sharply and the same moment there's a gust of wind, his blue kimono flying up, revealing his currently very feminine thighs. Magari seems a little envious, given the rosy glow of her cheeks.

"Well, I normally don't enjoy hearing life stories." The redhead begins, "But I admit you're a decent story-teller. It was interesting, at least. It's not often you willingly hear the exploits of renegade nin from their very lips."

"Know that from experience?"

"My lips are sealed." She grins teasingly at Haku, "But it's a pleasure to have encountered you, Haku-san and Naruto-san. I'm Uzumaki Magari, but you're welcome to call me Magari."

The rain starts to come down hard. It strikes the tent above them harshly, water now drips madly from the long striped drapes. It mingles together in the soggy earth.

"U-U-Uzumaki?"

"Ah, yes. That's my surname. A rarity among my kind. Have you heard of me?"

The blonde looks at Haku pitifully, "Can you tell if she's lying?"

"She doesn't appear to be."

"Lying? Why would I lie about my last name? I'm proud of it, you know."

"Perhaps because it is a nearly extinct clan?" Haku asks over Naruto's fumbling lips.

"Oh. So you know about that." She looks away, "Perhaps I should offer a little bit of an explanation, the kind I give our new recruits. See, this circus is actually connected with several orphanages throughout the elemental countries. It's how we find our talent. It was founded a little less than two decades ago by a kind young shinobi named Yahiko. An orphan just like the rest of us. Although we ultimately separated ways, we still operate primarily in Ame because of him. Right now, the circus is run in large by the most experienced of us. That would be me... and three others." She trails off, "Sorry, I can't say more than that. But I was an orphan. I don't remember much before they found me, but they said they received me from a merchant who knew my name." She grins, "So yes, I am a descendant of that famous, now nearly extinct clan, if that's what you're wonder-gah!"

Naruko's perky breasts press tightly into Magari, "What are you doing?" she stammers, feeling the arms tightly envelop her, "Wait, why are you shaking?" she looks up at Haku, completely lost, "What's wrong?"

The teen just points at the blonde that cries tears of rain silently, his cloudy blue eyes clenched tight, his arms pinning Magari's elbows at her sides.

"Uzumaki Naruto." he deadpans, smiling faintly as he watches Naruto hold her silently.

---

As the sun sets, the sky losing its bright spring light, a cold breeze wakes the nocturnal animals in their high resting places among the trees, shaking leaves.

And in one of those budding trees, a man dressed in solid dark navy clothes, save for a green flak jacket buttoned at the shoulders, sits. His chin is in his hands, a sloppy posture marring his otherwise stern look. His brown hair is hidden by the shadows of the leaves above him, feet swinging with the cool air.

His eyes are darting about, watching two young genin move and flow.

Haruno Sakura has very short pink hair, a boyish cut leaving little past her ears. Her emerald eyes are focused and a little mirthful, but she never raises them up off the ground, seeing past the battlefield and into some distant otherworld.

Her narrow frame is covered in black. Skinny, long thighs stretch short black spats, a combination of black fishnet and spandex covering her body from her navel to her shoulders, fishnet extending to her elbows and up her neck. Around her hips is a side-cocked black belt, a few brown leather throwing-weapon holsters dangling from it.

She's light on her feet, pushing off the ground with each step. She bounces with a steady rhythm, keeping her heart rate up while draining her stamina.

Tenzou thinks it's something Anko has forced the girl to do while training, to build up her endurance. The little movement seems like nothing, but it can be taxing to maintain during extended periods. Sakura hasn't shown any significant increase in muscle-mass since Tenzou first met her all those weeks ago, only her calves seem to have tightened and matured.

To him, Sakura looks less like the aspiring fashion model she used to be, and more like a serious kunoichi. But looks are simply that. He's disappointed in her performance so far. Mitarashi Anko has had the girl all to herself for a while now and considering that makes her the proxy-apprentice of one of the Sannin, she's just not impressive enough. Anko can't take missions while training the girl, so at the moment the girl is just a drain on resources. If he were in command, he would have sent the girl back to the academy, or better yet, enrolled her at the hospital. She might make a decent doctor or medic, but he's not convinced she can be anything more than liability in combat, yet.

Her opponent, however, shows all the physical prowess she lacks. Right now, he's just playing with her. Sasuke is unchanged physically since the two genin last saw each other. His white shorts flapping in the wind, high blue collar hiding his neck, his most notable feature now is an elegance to his movements. They're less wasteful and stiff. As Sakura hurls dull shuriken at the teen, he hops off the nearest tree, twisting in the air slightly, avoiding the shower of speedy projectiles.

Right now, Sasuke is restricted only to taijutsu. He may not engage his opponent in any other way, so he's biding his time, using the trees as cover and added mobility, sticking to them and propelling off like a bird when Sakura attacks, using the opportunities to close the gap between them.

In Tenzou's mind, Sasuke has a lot of room yet to grow. Physically, his limits are perhaps as high as his elder brother's, but what will hold him back is his attitude and lack of discipline. The Uchiha was furious upon being sent back to the academy, where he performed the role of a pencil pusher, training dummy, deadpan instructor, and glorified babysitter.

It took two weeks of that, in combination with Tenzou's constant, trying mediation, to finally break him of of his insubordinate tendencies. Sasuke now quietly helps out at the academy during the mornings, assisting students and doing the work the chuunin instructors are wont to procrastinate.

His physical training began only two weeks ago, when Tenzou heard the teen speak to one of the students privately, about respecting one's teachers and taking their training at the academy more seriously, telling the modified tale of Momochi Zabuza's demise and Uchiha Sasuke's utter defeat. He had told the child a ninja's most important asset was preparedness.

Tenzou doesn't agree that particular quality is what's most important, but it was a sign of great progress. He couldn't just ignore the budding shinobi, after that.

Much to Tenzou's distaste, Sasuke is much too prideful. He will never make it past chuunin with his arrogant attitude. He will never see ANBU until he can suppress his emotions and lust for revenge. But he's still a little proud for his fledgling student. He can go places, that much is evident when he tricks Sakura into losing track of him.

He leaps from the trees with a flock of previously nesting birds, catching her off guard with a downward kick like a hawk.

To the girl's credit, she does dodge the attack, albeit, barely. She spins and pivots, throwing out a hip-swung kick of her own, but Sasuke catches it and grabs it, hurling the girl into a tree. From there, it's just a direct assault. Sakura is pushed backwards until her spine is crushed against the bark of a tree. She blocks and parries Sasuke's punches using her elbows and forearms, trying to get out from being pinned in place, but Sasuke grapples both of her wrists and slams his hip into her stomach, paralyzing her legs.

Tenzou hops down, "Good work you two."

Sasuke releases Sakura, who is breathing harshly, her skin flushed, skin slick with shiny sweat. Sasuke is only lightly winded, but he hides it well, feigning exertion for the girl's benefit. Perhaps it's a sign of maturity, or simply a defensive mechanism. Tenzou has worked him to the bone under any sign of comfort or contentedness.

"Next time, don't play around. Sakura is trying her best and you belittle her by not taking her seriously."

"Hn."

He looks at Sakura, his pleased look dying as anxiety creeps into his lips, "Has Anko taught you any ninjutsu yet Sakura?"

She seizes a deep breath, pushing off the tree with a tremble, "No, Tenzou-san. We've exclusively focused on taijutsu and survival training. And well..." she blushes fiercely, "Other stuff that isn't relevant to direct combat."

"I see. Well, that's no good."

"Tenzou-sensei."

"You may speak, Sasuke."

He nods curtly, "Why are we here? You said I wouldn't see Sakura again, for months or more. That our team - it's dead."

Sakura flinches at those blunt words, but she hides it well from her former teammate; not so well from Tenzou, however, "There has been a change. I couldn't foresee it, of course." He stares both genin down, commanding their utter attention, "I honestly can't see there being another Team Seven - not with either of you in it. Maybe in a few years, if you two grow a lot, but I personally doubt it and professionally think you two aren't suited for one another." He shakes his head, "That hasn't changed. But what has... well, we're going to see the Hokage in twenty minutes, for a special meeting. There will be other teams there - we're going to be taking on an extended mission together. It will be extremely dangerous." He lets his focus drift to Sakura, "We will be going to Rain country."

"Rain?" Sasuke says curiously, "And a mission? I thought you said I wasn't ready."

"If it were- if the circumstances were any different from this- I would agree with my earlier assessment. But, you have grown Sasuke." He lets a little warmth fill his voice, "As have you Sakura, at least from my data... just not as much as I had hoped." Sakura sinks to her knees.

"A mission?" She swallows thickly.

"Yes. I suppose Anko-san didn't tell you? What am I saying, of course she hasn't." He finds no amusement in that woman's antics, "I don't know yet how things will play out, but it's likely that you will be working with two other genin. The same goes for you, Sasuke."

"I still don't understand... you sound reluctant." Sasuke points out, his voice leading with an edge, "Why am I going anywhere if you don't think I'm ready? I wasn't ready three days ago and now I'm suddenly ready? What changed? I didn't do anything."

"That's a fair point." He sighs, "It will make more sense after the meeting, but I agree, I've done you a disservice by confusing you like this - just, try to understand I'm only doing this because Hokage-sama needs us right now. This mission comes from him personally. He needs your help."

"Hokage-sama?" Sakura looks up, her eyes glassy.

"Indeed. We are taking an S-ranked mission, no less."

"S-S-S-ranked?!" Sakura jumps up, pointing at him, "Shannaro! I'm not ready for an S-ranked mission, what the hell is stupid Anko-sensei thinking?!" she stomps the ground, twisting over to look at Sasuke, "Sasuke-kun is amazing and all-" she says frigidly, "But he's not ready for something like that either! We're genin, remember? Graah! Surviving in the Forest of Death for a few weeks doesn't make you ready for S-ranked missions!"

Tenzou nods, surprised when Sasuke lays a hand on the girl's arm, "Calm down Sakura."

Her cheeks redden. She nods, going utterly silent then.

Tenzou stares at the scene, blinking. A calculating look adorning his almond-shaped eyes, he clears his throat, making Sasuke retrieve his hand.

"Don't worry about it for now Sakura-san. I'll talk to Anko-san after you get briefed. If you aren't ready for this mission, just tell her then. It's a part of being a shinobi that you know and tell others your limits."

Sakura nods mutely.

"Good." He praises, reaching into his pocket. He hands her a scroll, "You have excellent chakra control. Because of the nature of this mission, I have prepared a technique that I specifically requested from Hokage-sama. Let's keep this a secret between us, ne?" he gives the girl a friendly smile, which of course looks frightening to the pinkette, but she manages a pleasant grin nonetheless, used to her own teacher's creepy looks, "Consider it a reward for surviving your training up to the point." He looks at Sasuke and nods to him, "Of course, I have a reward for you as well, but it will have to wait. I'll give it you when we hit the road."

Sasuke studies Sakura as she opens the scroll. His gaze flickers back to him, "Understood, sensei."

"Good. Take a breather then. Cool down for a few minutes, you two should talk, work through your feelings now that you've fought. I know a failed mission leaves behind baggage between people. Then, we'll walk to the tower."

Tenzou walks away, leaving the two to themselves.

Another breeze works its way through the sparsely spread trees. The two share an awkward look, keeping a comfortable distance apart. Sakura pockets the scroll after glancing a little more at it.

"Do you think this is about Naruto?" Sasuke asks softly.

"Naruto? Oh, um, I guess it could be. But why do you think that?"

"He's not back."

She thinks for a moment, "Not that we know. I mean, I've been in solitary confinement with my crazy sensei since I got back. I've talked to how many people besides Anko-sensei, Hokage-sama, Team Eight, and my parents?" After a breath, she holds up one finger.

"Hn. Well, it's not like I've stopped by his apartment or anything." Sasuke mumbles, "But I've been around the village. Most people think he's dead or they just haven't even thought about him. They haven't seen him. Don't you think that's odd?"

"He ran away, why would it be odd?"

"He couldn't be dead Sakura. If he has the- well, you know- they couldn't just kill him, could they?"

"So, he must be captured right? He must be in a prison somewhere."

"But what if he's not? What if he's still on the run? Isn't that what he was intending when we parted ways?"

Sakura thinks for a moment, before shrugging, "I don't know. I guess I didn't consider it. But I suppose it's possible. He was good at pranking right? I always wondered how he evaded those ANBU and chuunin who chased after him."

Sasuke nods, "Right."

"So what if the mission has to do with him?"

"Well, it would be one reason why they need us." He adds, "I was just thinking. You know? You tend to be pretty smart. Or at least, I thought you were."

Sakura looks away, "Thanks. But, I guess I've been just pushing all that out of my mind - with Kakashi-sensei and Naruto, you know? I just didn't want to think about it. I thought it would all just go away."

"It's not."

She nods, offering a timid smile, "I suppose it won't just go away. Sorry Sasuke I... you shouldn't look at me right now. I'm still the weak idiot who cost us everything."

"We're all responsible for it. All of us have to take responsibility." He grits his teeth, moving closer to her, "It's our fault everything is so messed up. You just can't ignore it, Sakura. You just can't shoulder the blame alone, either." He stares with icy black eyes, but she won't meet his gaze, "Look at me Sakura. Don't- don't act- stop it! Stop it... you can't... you can't keep it all inside..."

She turns away. but the Uchiha reaches out, grabbing her shoulder. He pulls on her. She continues to twist her gaze away, but he grabs her chin, looking her fiercely in the eye.

There are tears.

He lets her go.

"I understand." She says stiffly, her voice choked. But she still looks away.

Tenzou watches in the shadows. Pleased when the stoic teen puts one arm around Sakura's shoulders, holding her in an awkward embrace from behind.

---

"Hey, Ojii-san."

Konohamaru has spiky brown hair angled to one side and black eyes. He wears gray shorts and a pale yellow shirt, a dark scarf wound around his skinny neck. On his thigh a tight blue band holds a small green holster.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sits in his chair, looking down at the boy whose head and neck extend over the dark desk.

"How are you?"

"I'm good."

Hiruzen nods, "Do you know why you're here?"

"Not really. Ebisu-sensei told Moegi and Udon to show up at the tower with him in a few minutes, but he said you wanted to see me early? What's going on?"

"Naruto has been found."

The boy blinks, "Eh? Found?" He screeches, "You told me he was dead!"

He chuckles, "I apologize for deceiving you on something so personal, but it was necessary. Besides, did you really believe me when I said that?"

"Nah, I didn't, not really." He's smiling now, bouncing back with a pleased look, "I knew Boss wouldn't die that easily."

"You and your friends have certainly been working hard since that news. Ebisu-san has told me all about how devoted you've all been to your training. Actually, I was a little worried up until just now, but it's fortunate that you've all been trying your best. It has actually presented an interesting opportunity."

"An opportunity?"

"For early graduation."

"W-What?! B-but how!"

"I will be frank. I need your help."

"My help? But you never want my help!"

The old man laughs, leaning low in his seat, "Yes, but there are some things I cannot do. You, on the other hand, share a special connection with Naruto-kun."

"Well, yeah. It's Boss." He grins, "So what kind of trouble is Boss in? I'll bail him out for sure."

"I'm afraid it's not quite as simple as that, Konohamaru-kun. In-fact, what is being proposed tonight is extremely dangerous. As Hokage, I must often make difficult decisions, but tonight, I may be committing many who are not ready. Many who may not come back in the best of health, or worse... but as selfish as this all is, I feel it must be done." Sarutobi says vaguely, "In a few minutes, you will be given a choice that will likely change you for the rest of your life, Konohamaru. A choice that was only given to children during the last war. This is not something that I do lightly, so I ask that you and your friends think long and hard about your decision."

"I... I don't understand, Ojii. Are you saying I'm going to help look for Boss? But... if he was found, I don't get it. Is he still in trouble?"

"It's complicated. I'll explain soon. I just want you to understand that no matter your choice, I will support it."

He reaches across the desk with both arms and picks the boy off the floor, bringing him into his arms.

He whispers into his ear, "As Hokage, I have looked at every decision I have ever made as a part of one whole. Every decision I have found myself at the crux of, I have always reminded myself of one thing: the word decision, comes from the word cis. To cut. A decision never leaves something whole behind; a decision is always destructive; an end to peace or to war, to love or to hate, to birth or to death. Were this world ideal, no man would ever decide anything. But tonight, I need you to grow up a little for me. I am asking you to sacrifice some of your precious innocence, to indulge an old fool like me. Because no matter what you decide, you will not leave the same."

---

Knock. Knock.

Knock. Knock.

"Hinata-sama." A voice pushes through the door, "Hinata-sama."

"Go away."

"Hinata-sama, you know there is a meeting. I was requested to bring you there." A dark voice intones, "Do not waste my time with your prolonged foolishness."

A girl rises from her bed like a corpse. She shuffles across the flat tatami floor and pulls open a thin, translucent door, "It isn't like you couldn't have just let yourself in. It was not locked, Nii-san." Her voice is hollow.

Hyuuga Neji stands with his stocky legs leaden like stones, arms coiled tight at his chest. He is clad in his light jacket, a scarf around his neck. His cold eyes stare down, "I will not break into your room and drag you up from the sheets. You are not an invalid, Hinata-sama."

"I did not hear about any meeting. Why is it so late? The sun has set. I have already eaten. I would like to rest."

"I do not know the details. Gai-sensei was serious about it." He sighs, "I told you at dinner, if you recall."

"Why didn't Kurenai-sensei tell me?"

"I do not know. But whatever you are being summoned for involves my entire team as well. Please, get your coat. We are leaving immediately."

The girl slinks across her room and picks up her coat off the floor, donning it. She draws the fluffy hood over her head, bathing her face in shadow. She quietly follows after her brother, barely keeping up with him.

---

Yakiniku Q is Team Ten's headquarters. It's relatively quiet, with a pleasant sizzling sound to fill the comfortable atmosphere. There's a peppery, warm smell and a constant source of heat for the winter. The lights are low and the prices are just right for an Akimichi. The seats are a little worn and Ino tends to complain they make her butt go numb, the hard wood pressing upwards into her bony frame, but it's an all-around good place to be when meeting up early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

It's where Yamanaka Ino conspires after Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru strategizes ways to get out of doing work, and Akimichi Chouji eats. Asuma sometimes does things as well, though more often than not, he actually excels at being lazy better than Shikamaru.

Except for tonight. It's late and the four of them are eating. Ino's soft hands pick at her plate. She's eating low-carb food, a large salad with no dressing, but her sensei has been forcing her to eat some of the greasy meet the boys order. She stares at it, hoping Chouji will scoop it off her plate. But the big-boned boy is too busy shovelling his own food between his firm lips.

Shikamaru's lanky arms are being used as a head-rest as he leans back in his seat, his plate half-empty. He's doing his best to ignore starting a conversation. There's something going on, he can tell from the way Asuma has trouble speaking.

But for all the stall tactics Shikamaru has employed (he's the whole reason Asuma is paying for dinner tonight, the whole reason they're even there at all), it's simply not enough. Nothing will stop his sensei from bringing down some truly troublesome news.

"You're going on an S-ranked mission in three days."

Chouji starts choking, his eyes watering as he reaches up to his throat.

Ino sighs, as if familiar with her friend's distress. She leans over in the booth seat, wrapping her arms sideways around his gut. She squeezes hard three times, dislodging something in his throat, a piece of beef smacking somebody in the head a distance away.

"Mendokuse."

"Sensei, you can't be serious." Ino mumbles, "Why joke about something like that?"

Chouji takes a few deep breaths.

"It's no joke."

"It can't be S-ranked." Shikamaru mumbles, his voice the kind one makes into the face of a pillow, "We're genin."

"My genin."

"As if that counts for anything."

"I'm with lazy bones." Ino chimes, "We barely survived our first C-ranked mission. And after what happened to Sasuke-kun's team, you can't seriously be suggesting that. I wouldn't even go on a B-ranked mission with Shikamaru-baka yet."

"Well, I guess that's my fault." Asuma sighs, "But I'm in no position to reject this mission. And for all the sense you kids make, I can't help it. You're going."

Shikamaru's brows scrunch up, "What brought this on? Did I do something wrong yesterday? If I did, I'm sorry sensei. Would you like to win our next shouji game?"

"It's nothing you did wrong. Not really. It's just, this will be a good experience for you a wake-up call."

"From who? The shinigami?"

Chouji is just direct, his voice thick with saliva and grease, "Where will be going?"

"Not now, Chouji. I'd rather talk in the tower about it."

He nods.

"This is nuts. Sensei, I'm not going on an S-ranked mission - I'll die! I'll die before my first kiss- before Saskue-kun can-"

"Ino, can it with the dramatics alright? Jeez." Asuma slumps forward, disappointed in his kids, "I told you already. I've made the decision. I'm not letting you have any say. But don't worry, we'll have a big training session tomorrow morning. At the crack of dawn. I'm going to whip you three into shape so you don't die."

"That's comforting." Shikamaru drawls, he makes a dry glance at Ino, "Do you want to pack the body bags? Or should I?"

Asuma slaps the Nara boy up the side of the head, "That's it. You're going to work twice as hard tomorrow."

"Tch. Why me?"

"But it might not be a bad idea to bring some body bags for tomorrow's training."

---

"Hey, Kakashi-san."

An invisible man stands under a foreseeing wind. In dark navy clothes, he blends into the night sky. His eyes are small, like tiny black beads, dark sunglasses folded in one pocket. In his hand, he holds a navy cap. His other hand scratches his dark brown hair.

"It's been a while, ne?" He chuckles, "It's okay." He says to the cool night wind, looking up as the stars begin to shine through the thick clouds overhead, "Have I thanked you lately? Yeah, I suppose I did, a couple of days ago was it? It's only because of you, that I'm where I am today." He looks down at the pavement before the humble monument to the fallen, "Do you know that Konohamaru-kun has been working hard lately? I was surprised, but at least one good thing came out of all of this. If it makes it any better, I'll be sure to keep Obito-san in my thoughts."

He goes silent for a while, until he notices a presence behind him. He stands from his crouching position, turning to the scar-faced chuunin, "Umino-san. Hello."

"Ebisu." Iruka says.

"Here for your parents again?"

"Yes and no." He says, standing beside him now. In his hand, a bouquet of flowers.

"Your parents and Uzumaki, then."

He nods, planting the flowers among several other bouquets, some already wilting.

"Naruto isn't on that stone, you know."

"I know."

"You also know that Sandaime-sama would not have let prejudice prevent that, right?"

"I know."

Ebisu keeps his customary grimace, "Well, that's good. Anyway, I'm going to be out of the village for a while. Team Konohamaru- well, they will be absent from your classes from now on. Though you'll hear about that in the morning."

"What?" Iruka turns sharply, "What are you talking about?"

The man grins playfully, donning the dark cap, fitting his brown hair inside it, "Don't worry, they'll be in my care."

"That hardly helps. You're not very reliable."

"You care too much, as always, Umino-san; you're too reliable. I'm sure I'll be hearing about how you stormed the tower tomorrow, brandishing a blade on Hokage-sama for child abuse. You coddle them."

He starts to walk away, but Iruka calls out his name. Without turning around, Ebisu lifts up one hand and waves it, wearing a sly grin, "Don't worry. We're just going on a mission. We'll be fine."

Iruka doesn't follow him. He just watches him disappear into the night. He slumps forward, letting out a weary groan, "Those brats, what are they up to...? Don't tell me Hokage-sama made them genin... they're not the least bit ready."

---

"So you're an Uzumaki."

They've found a private spot on the circus grounds, far from the other performers who began to turn their ears toward the strange scene.

It's behind a few closed stands, the ground cracked and barren. Naruto leans back against one peeling pink stall, looking a little embarrassed with his reddened, puffy eyes. The only comfort is that girls are allowed to cry and currently he's one of them.

"Yeah. Though it doesn't mean anything in Konoha."

"So I hear. I suppose most of us, those who still live, are condemned to all be miserable orphans." She chuckles aridly, her red and gold qipao looking a little worn on her now, from Haku's perspective.

"That's not right though." Naruto complains, "That Uchiha jerk said I was the last Uzumaki-"

"Perhaps he didn't know." Haku says, "I doubt anyone can truly say if a clan is dead - I may be the last of my clan, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were more of my family out there, somewhere." He looks at Naruto with an icy stare, "That's what I'd like to hope."

Naruto nods, offering Magari a smile, "He's right- if you're my family, I shouldn't question it. I should just be happy to have found you. Which I am."

She smiles nervously, "That's touching and all, but what proof do you have that you're from the same clan as me?"

It's just quiet for a while. Naruto's body shifts, head throbbing in distress. All of his thoughts converge to one unholy conclusion.

"No. I have nothing. I can't prove I'm from the Uzumaki clan. Actually, to tell you the truth, I didn't even think I was from a large clan until very recently. I thought my name was a common one, from a villager or something. Not that I really cared about that aspect of it."

Magari hesitates at those words. But she seems to accept them, revealing quietly, "There... technically is a way to check." She admits reluctantly, "Though I haven't- I mean, I abandoned the dream so long ago I've forgotten..."

"What. What do you mean? There's really a way?"

She nods, "Yes. Of course. Uzumaki have a special kind of chakra. I don't really know much more than that, but it's easy to check. Actually, most Uzumaki have some kind of red hair... that's another factor. But I suppose there might be blond Uzumaki too."

"Red huh?" Haku mumbles knowingly.

"Well, what's the way?"

"There is a seal. See, Uzumaki were known for their sealing techniques when they were alive. That's why we were almost wiped out; we got too strong for our own good." She admits, "I don't know it. I don't know Fuuinjutsu. My parents gave me a book- but it was lost-" she grits her teeth, "I don't know who took it, or when, but I lost it. I do have the other things they gave me, but without that book, I can't perform the seal."

"So, there is a way, but it still lost to us." Haku concludes.

"Yes."

"Do you know anything about seals?" Naruto asks hopefully.

"I know just a little. That our clan was famous for them. That we had a special style... some of the drawings I have inspire the way I dance."

The blonde nods.

"This is going to be a little creepy, but please, um, look at something for me, Magari-chan." Naruto bashfully opens up his kimono after undoing the thin sash around his waist, startling the redhead. Holding his nude breasts with one arm, the girl blushes as fishnet underwrappings and tan muscular flesh stare at her; an inwardly-curving navel drawing her eyes.

Naruto closes his eyes and concentrates, a vibrantly glowing black seal flowing to the surface.

"What is that thing?" she moves closer, drawn to the spiraling symbol. She reaches out and touches the swirling seal.

"It's my seal." He says, letting her study it.

The redhead glares at the structure for a while. Finally, she pulls away with a huff, "I'm sorry, it doesn't. It doesn't prove anything to me."

"Oh. Really?" he slumps, "My seal is supposed to be special. But I understand if that's not enough."

She backs away, "I"m sorry. But, what exactly does your seal do?"

When Naruto doesn't say anything, Haku puts a hand on his shoulder, confronting the girl with a powerful stare, "Don't worry about it. It's better if you don't know. He has secrets too, right?"

"Y-Yeah."

Naruto fixes his wardrobe, then opens his eyes, looking supremely tired. Magari apologies again.

"At least there's a way." He says, "Maybe- hey, maybe we can come back here if we find something. Maybe we can perform the seal, if we find your book. If that would convince you."

A smile blooms, "Of course I'd be convinced if you could get the book back and show me the seal in action. I don't know how it works, but it'd definitely convince me that you're my brother."

Regardless of the fact she's clearly not comfortable about it, Naruto rushes forward and crushes her with another hug again, "I'll find a way. Definitely, dattebayo. I swear I'll find a way to prove it to you."

"Then... I better give you a schedule for our circus. We travel all over."

"Thank you Magari-san."

"It's no trouble you two. Forgive me, I'm just a little shocked. I never dreamed- I gave up finding any of my family a long time ago. I didn't think someone would just appear out of thin air. It's unbelievable."

Magari entertains the two girls-that-are-really-apparently-boys for a little while longer, before informing them she has an afternoon show to perform. She gives them a handwritten scroll which dictates their movements for the next year.

"It was- even if I can't prove it yet-I just wanted to say, I'm- it's hard to speak. Sorry, I'm trying not to cry again."

"It's okay. I think I understand-"

"No, I don't think-" he shakes his head, "Sorry. It's just, growing up in Konoha, I wished so hard for a brother, a sister, a grandmother- anyone- and for you to just be here..."

She nods silently, "Even if we are not related, I can tell you genuinely hope that we are. Sorry if I'm skeptical. I guess I'm just bitter." She sighs, "I like living this life. Moving from town to town. It makes it easy to forget, so sorry if I don't seem grateful... but I'm glad to have met someone interesting like you." She smiles brightly.

He wants to hug her a third time, but that anxious tense in her cheeks makes him hesitate. Ultimately, he just returns that brimming look of hers, depositing her note in his pocket, "Until we meet again, ne Magari-chan?"

"Until we meet again, Naruto-kun."

She waves as she watches them retreat, turning around the corner and vanishing.

They walk past the ticket man, weaving through the crowds lined up to see the circus as the sky turns an ethereal orange. It won't be long until everyone is running back to their homes to escape nightfall.

They walk in time with the rain. Naruto settling into a rhythm which Haku mimics, their strides completely synchronized.

"This is just great. Who knew we'd meet her? This is what I was talking about to those stupid ANBU- if-if I had gone back with them, I never would have met someone like her. She could- no. I know it. She's my sister." His voice is fiery with excitement and longing.

"If not your sister, then at least one of your clan." Haku admits, seeing enough similarities in the two to believe it himself, "I wonder where we could start looking..."

"For Uzumaki clan techniques? If they're written down- well you already said people don't really write down techniques."

"Not usually. I admit I don't know how all clans and villages operate, but from what Zabuza-sama taught me, it's unlikely you will simply find a scroll somewhere-"

"But Magari-chan said she had a book. So there did exist at least one thing with stuff written in it."

"You're correct. In this case, it might still exist somewhere in the world. In the hands of a collector, or a village somewhere. But it could take decades to find it, if ever..."

"Yeah. And- I can't go back on my nindo. We've got to become the Sannin first. It'll just... have to take second priority for now."

"There is always the alternative. A sample of yours and Magari-san's blood. I don't know if Ame has any hospitals with the ability, but I do know there exists a technique, or perhaps a machine, which can do genetics testing."

"Yeah... hey, maybe we can-" he stops, "I guess it would be hard to let her part with some of her blood."

Haku nods, "I don't know much, but there exist some kinjutsu that utilize blood. If she is as competent as she acts, she won't just give us some of her blood." Hearing the fatigue in the blonde's voice, "Let's just go back to the inn for now. It's getting too late."

"Yeah, I can get excited over the fact I still have family, later. I should just clear my head for a while."

They enter the main streets, sloshing through puddles of rainwater, their feet stepping on the dimming reflections of a cloudy sky.

"Sorry we couldn't find a hobby."

"We're not going to find something that easily. Besides, I'm... picky."

"Yeah, I see that."

"And this was fun."

"...Yeah."

They drop into an alleyway. Haku walks deep into the shadows while Naruto peers around the corner. Smoke drifts up into the air as the blonde lets his transformation dissipate. When he turns around, Haku is there, his hands adjusting his hair.

When they step inside the inn's lobby, a lot of heads turn. Unsettling looks from the people staying there. It's dinner time, so it's crowded. They move quickly, the looks retreating.

"Kaiu sure is a friendly place." Naruto mumbles to himself, "Why did they look at us like that?"

"Probably the way you're dripping your umbrella all over the floor."

"What am I supposed to do with it?!"

Haku takes it and places it in a sink near the a coat rack.

The inn serves dinner down by the lobby. The tables are small, the two taking one in the dark corners of the large room. It's a milky soup, white broth with an assortment of vegetables and a little meat.

It's tempting to talk about something, but Naruto holds his tongue. The room is very quiet. It's too easy for people to listen in. So they eat mostly in silence, Haku only making a few comments to him.

"This town is interesting."

"Yeah? I guess so. It's certainly a little livelier than the last one.""

"I don't know if I'd say it's lively."

"No?"

"Have you spoken with the people here? News has reached them about Gama. I've seen distressed families in the street, begging for news from police."

"I've been trying to keep my distance-"

"Unless it's a redhead."

"Oh shut up." He huffs, "I am not attracted to just red hair."

"But you do like it."

He doesn't deny it, only glaring at Haku as he finishes his meal, "And what kind of hair do you like?"

"Hmm. Well, I do happen to like your hair."

The teen reaches up and feels his short spiky hair, "Really? It's kind of butchered since I cut it. But don't change the subject, I'm not a girl."

"I didn't say you were."

"I meant, what kind of girls do you like?"

Haku loses the ability to speak for a moment, his dry throat croaking.

"You do like girls, don't you?"

"Naturally. I just don't... think about that sort of thing."

"Aren't you afraid that makes you a tool?"

"...I don't see how that's relevant."

"Well if you start a family some day..." he trails off, "You wouldn't be a tool. Or at least, I don't see how you could be both..."

"I suppose."

"I admit I don't really know what I'm talking about." He leans back in his seat, "I didn't even kiss Sakura-chan on the cheek." He gags, "Actually, my first kiss was with Sasuke."

"Pffwhat?!"

The blond placates with his hands, "Shh! Don't shout! I don't want everyone to know. It's embarrassing, alright? And disgusting- it was a total accident- but it doesn't change the fact- well I could just pretend like it doens't count... but I still feel violated."

"I guess I can imagine your lips locked with that tall, dark and handso-"

Naruto lifts his soup bowl in an attempt to throw it, but Haku manages to calm him down with a series of rapid apologies. They retire to their room after that.

Naruto offers to treat Haku's wound that night, but he takes care of it on his own, unwrapping the bandages. There's still ugly brown and red flesh where the blade carved into his arm, but it doesn't look that bad, not that he has any idea what a healthy recovery looks like.

"It's not infected." He says after changing the bandages and lavering the injury with a pasty substance, "It is painful to lift my arm and it's too early to say how fast my recovery will be, but I've recovered from worse under Zabuza-sama."

Naruto spends a few hours examining the scroll he'd taken from Ameyuri's stockpile -Mist Servant Technique. One of his clones manages to make him see triple images of himself inside their room. It's a little disorienting, his copies warped and wavy, bending back and forth. He cancels the genjutsu with a kai before he gets worse enough to start throwing up all over the floor.

He also inquires about medical techniques. A little time is spent going over some basic herbs from a book Haku has stored away. It's not much, but Naruto has one of his clones read it.

"Um, shouldn't you be the one to look at the book Naruto? Or am I not talking to the real you?"

"No, I'm the real one. I could read your book, but it doesn't make any difference." He shrugs, "If my clone learns something, I know it too, once it dies."

"Really? That's incredible."

"Yep. How else did I know who made it safe from Gama?"

"That's... Naruto, do you have any idea what this means?" he sighs, "You could have sent clones all throughout this town the first day we arrived. They could have transformed into random people and we could have had an entire understanding of the layout of this place on the first day in a fraction of the time."

"Oh. Since you put it that way, yeah, that is pretty incredible." He cheers, "Should I place some henge'd clones outside the inn then? If the police get onto us, we'd have a better chance to run away."

"No. Not unless your clones can blend in over long periods of time, you'll just draw attention here."

"Ah, right."

"But go ahead and read my book. I also have a book on first aid on me as well, but I'll let you have it once I test you on the current material."

"Okay, but I can just have another clone-"

"Who knows how well you will actually retain that information. I'd rather see how much you absorb without the added distraction distorting the results."

"I guess."

The conversation reminds Naruto that he has a book Hotaru gave him. He has Haku unseal it, promising not to have any clones read it.

The book is black and bound in a soft, shiny black felt. It has no title on the front, but opening the cover reveals a table of contents. It smells old and musty and is rather frail, the binding weak under the stress of the many pages.

Introduction - Dispelling Myths
Chapter One - A Brief History of Rain Country
Chapter Two - A Chronology of Blood Limit Research
Chapter Three - Prominent Ninja Clans in Amegakure
Chapter Four - Prominent Samurai Clans in Ame
Chapter Five - A History of Blood Limits and Bloodlines in Ame
Chapter Six - Myths, and Legends in Ame
Chapter Seven - A Theory on the Bijuu
Chapter Eight - A Thesis on Demons
Chapter Nine - The Role of Fuuinjutsu, Genetics, and Politics in Blood Limits
Chapter Ten - On Skills, Traits, and Abilities Mistaken for Blood Limits
Glossary of Terms
Index

In total, there are close to six hundred pages. Naruto doens't have the patience to start from the beginning. He's mostly drawn to the chapter on Bijuu, so he starts there.

Upon seeing Naruto crack open the large tome, Haku sighs, "I imagine we'll need to pick up a dictionary for you. Or is your kanji better than I expect?"

"A dictionary is probably going to be a good idea." Naruto shakes his head as he stares at the first paragraph on chapter seven, only able to make out various words and phrases and not the whole. Yet, after flipping through the chapter for a while, he's able to find a paragraph on a particular subject he's been dying to know more about.

---

The Kyuubi no Youko is known as "Harbinger of Natural Disaster" to some. Legends say he can cause great devastation with his just his tails. He has been reported in some documents that were recorded during the times of the samurai, but visual accounts of the great beast have been in short supply and detail since before the First World War.

What is known is accredited to the research of several monks that I interviewed in Ame no Kuni, sout of the village of Kiu. They operate a shrine to the fox spirits, kitsune. They produced some fascinating physical evidence, a massive paw print, which the shrine was built around. They also cared for many foxes, which were naturally drawn to the site.

According to their legend, the Kyuubi no Youko is the strongest of the tailed beasts. He is known to be proud and graceful. He is the most peculiar of the bijuu for his intense hatred of humanity. The monks say the nine-tailed fox is a being of intense negative emotion, at least toward human settlements. He is a sort of wayward protector of animals and nature, though there is not sufficient evidence toward their claim.

Being closely aligned with the kitsune, it is said that for all the beasts's great destructive power, it revels more in shrewd mind games. There is some evidence for this, as two villages, Youten and En, each located in what is today known as Earth Country, were destroyed not by any natural disaster, but by senseless slaughter and suicide from withn. Although there is not any direct evidence to corroborate the Kyuubi's involvement, there were sightings of it several weeks before the incidents.

---

Exhausted, Naruto's patience with the book's long-winded and half-baked theories on the fox dwindles. He closes the book shut and settles into bed, letting oblivion take him.

While peaceful rest and deep contention fills Naruto's heart in the comfortable haven of a warm bed, just outside, plumes of thick spiraling smoke rise into the cloudy night sky; black billowing towers mixing with the thin drizzle of the night's rain.

---

Naruto rises early, rousing Haku with his early morning habits.

Bathroom.

Eat.

Act groggy while clones clean up the messes from last night.

Haku eats a modest breakfast, quietly watching Naruto's antics. On the table is a scroll which describes Hien. It's all written in Haku's writing, the teen having taken explicit notes on the jutsu, so that he can carefully guard the original scroll against the elements.

"What should we do today? It's going to be the last one we get before we have to do that mission for Akatsuki."

"Yeah." Naruto sits on the carpet, his back flat against the wall. He seems to just be thinking, "Yeah. We should just rest. Yeah." He keeps nodding and saying, yeah. He's not a morning person - Haku has thoroughly confirmed that each morning, "We'll want to be at full strength. Probably lay low too? We've been too active."

"Maybe. But being inactive might tip off the people in the lobby. I wouldn't be surprised if they have ties to the police."

"Really? Tch. I don't know how we've made it this far without screwing up. What are we going to do when we reach Amegakure? I imagine the security there is pretty bleeeeh compared to this place."

"We'll do our best. Right? If you're intent on taking on... him, then give it your all. That's what Zabuza-sama did." He says, "It's rather ironic that I've gone from supporting one rebellion to the next."

"Naaaah. It's not iron-ironic." Naruto yawns, "It's right."

Haku can't concentrate. He looks away from the jutsu scroll, staring blankly ahead.

For a while they don't say anything. Naruto just watches his friend stare into space, but he too starts to do the same.

"You know, I was just following my gut. Coming to Ame."

"Huh? Oh. Well, we didn't have much of a choice. If we had kept going north, those ANBU would have got us much sooner."

"Probably."

The seconds tick by with the winding sound of the rain.

"But what I mean is, even though I wasn't really thinking about it - I'm here now. Still with you. I didn't plan this out, you know. I just decided... I'd follow you."

"Yeah. I get it. So?"

"I guess I'm wondering why I did that, is all."

"I would have followed you too, if you had decided to go somewhere else."

"Is that so?"

"Sure. Not like I planned this either." He gestures toward the ceiling, "Come to Ame. Learn to get stronger. And now we're on our own. We'll do this mission for Akatsuki. And if it's not bad work, and if they give us shelter and stuff, we'll do another. Does that sound much different from what you were doing with Zabuza?"

"No it doesn't. And that's the problem. I guess I'm afraid of becoming your sword."

Naruto blinks and nods, moved by those words for a moment, but finally, he just shrugs and smiles sleepily, "If anything, we're each other's sword."

"I like the sound of that, to a degree. But... to be a tool... even if it's some kind of mutual thing... I guess..." he struggles to understand what he means, "I want to do things consciously."

"So, does that mean you regret being with Zabuza all those years?"

"No. Of course not. I would still follow him - I still do. It's just... there are people who will always stand in front of those who are precious to us."

"I guess."

"Naruto. If Magari-san really is an Uzumaki - but someone intent on killing me. Would you kill them if it meant protecting me?"

Naruto hesitates, but he nods curtly, "I would."

"Is that right?"

"I don't know. Why is anything right? Why would I know? It just feels right, is all."

"If she's your sister, I'd be asking you to-"

"No. You wouldn't ask. You couldn't ask me to do that. Because you know Magari-chan is already my precious person, even though we just met..." he trails off, "It would be Magari-chan that would be asking me to choose her over you. I would definitely pick you."

Haku shifts uncomfortably, "Alright. That makes sense. But is it right? That's what I want to know? In a fight, you don't have the time to wonder if what you're doing is right. So you need to figure it out ahead of time."

"I admit I don't like the idea of killing anyone if I don't have to, let alone someone related to me. But, I wouldn't let it come to that. I wouldn't make it so I had to kill her, I'd just knock her out. And then, I'd beat her until she realized how stupid she was for wanting to kill someone as amazing as you."

"Amazing, huh?"

Naruto blushes, "Hey, don't make it sound all weird. I mean c'mon, you're just like I always dreamed of being while I was in the academy. Even if Zabuza was an asshole and a jerk, he was still a badass with a huge sword! And you went around as his minion, beating the shit out of anyone who dared to mess with him."

"I don't remember it being exactly like that. And are you saying you dreamed of being someone's minion?"

"No- I mean- he wanted you. He respected you. Even if you were just a tool to him, he cared. You're amazing to have been around someone like that and fought for his dream. Plus, you have super awesome ice powers. Even Ringo-sensei could tell you're awesome, it's why she started training you in kenjutsu and made me learn useless genjutsu..."

"Naruto, genjutsu isn't useless. Think about all the things you've accomplished with it."

"Yeah, right, I know I know! I was exaggerating. But, still. You get what I'm saying, right?"

"I suppose."

"You don't huh? Well, that's okay. No, wait, what am I saying? Haku, I want to hear three words right now!" he throws his fist into the air, standing up off the floor, his morning stupor passing with a rush of fire in his blue eyes, "I am fuckin' awesome. Come on, say it!"

"That's four words."

"Say it!"

He sighs, "I am fucking awesome."

"No no no! Not like that! Say it loud. Scream it!"

It takes Naruto a while to get his friend to raise his voice even a few decibels.

"You're hopeless."

"I thought you said I was awesome?"

"You are! Just not at letting other people get it."

"People don't need to get anything about me."

"Yeah they do..." Naruto sighs, "You just don't get it."

There's a slight tension in the air, but it dissipates. Naruto's smiling and when he smiles it takes a conscious effort for Haku to remain upset or even concentrated on anything negative.

"Anyway, what were we talking about again? Sorry, I think I sidetracked us."

"It was nothing. Just nothing."

He huffs, "Zabuza believed in you. But I believe in you way better than he ever did. What you're doing is right. That's all I'm saying. So just believe in me, who believes in you, or something."

"The sentiment is appreciated, but don't say that ever again." He laughs, "You sound ridiculous."

"Why are we even talking about this anyway? You don't doubt yourself, so I don't get why you can't admit how awesome you are."

"I don't doubt myself because in many ways I am still a tool. I am still a sword. Me doesn't exist... my purpose, whatever that is. What I exist for - right now, it's simply you. You need me. If I were to walk away, you would perish. If I were to let you do as you please, you would get yourself exposed. You have good instincts, but you let your emotions rule you; something that is very rare in shinobi that survive. Eventually, you will make a terrible misstep that will cost you everything. That is why I constantly remind you to be careful. That is why I am here, above all else. At this point, I'm a tool no matter what, right?"

"Yeah. I get it. But you don' t have to feel that way. You're not a tool because I need you."

"I cannot help this feeling. It's... just me. And it worries me, because I will simply become your weapon, if I don't ground myself."

"I won't let you become anyone's tool, especially not mine. What's brought all this on anyway?"

"How will you stop me?" Haku presses.

"I'll figure something out."

Haku sighs, his lips spreading into a smile even as his voice sounds harsh and bitter, "There you go again. Making impossible statements."

"It's not impossible."

"Naruto, do you have even the faintest idea how we'll take on The Salamander? Do you have any specific, explicit plans, besides Become The Sannin?"

"No... not yet. I guess that's a big problem, isn't it?"

"Yes. It's a huge problem. I don't know anything about him, besides what Ameyuri-sensei told us - he summons Salamanders and he fought the original Sannin, letting them go because he thought they were amusing."

"Well, I do have the fox. We can ask him to help us."

"Will you rely on it to win?"

"I'd rather not." He swallows, wondering if the fox really did drive people crazy in the past.

"So what, then? Maybe you should spend today figuring out how to fight him, if you think we will eventually clash."

"Heh. You're right." Naruto slumps back down onto the carpet, a hard look casted between his feet. He remains like that for about an hour, the sun staring straight down, warming the blackened rain as it smacks the pavement outside the inn. The constant running water lets Naruto think deep. So deep, that he naturally falls into a meditative state.

It's like that story Iruka told them once. Even if someone can see clearly in the dark, it doesn't mean other people can. Everyone needs to carry their own lantern in the darkness, so that those that don't have one, can see the way. Haku is like a person without a light. He's only able to see because Zabuza has told him to live on - that's how they've found each other. Only, now Haku is just able to follow in his footsteps. Haku needs a light of his own, but there's just no way he can simply give him one.

He is right, though. A little bit. Everything has happened because of him. Because he gave into his emotions and let them run free. Because he refused to think and calm down, he didn't try - no - he didn't want to try and rationalize with his team mates about what had really happened out on the bridge. Because of his emotions, he ran from Konoha and the death of his teacher; his failure. Because of his emotions, he threw himself into the fray, fighting back against the shinobi sent to retrieve him. Because of his emotions, he risked his life and Haku's on a pointless trek through an ancient cave. But even further back, because of his desire to be recognized and loved, he failed to understand why he was not recognized and loved.

Haku has been dropping less than subtle hints about his behavior all along. And he has tried to change, tried to act different, sometimes. But other times, it just slips his mind. He has to try harder from now on, to be the best shinobi he can be. Aiming for someone like Hanzou will allow for nothing less.

Naruto's eyes open and he stands from his deep posture. He meets Haku's brown eyes.

"I'm going to go for a walk. I need to clear my head. I'm... going to think about what you said. I'm going to figure out what we're going to do from here."

"Very well. Don't forget we have a responsibility tomorrow. You can't make any short-term plans until we have the mission details. And please, don't act on any of your plans for now."

"I understand. I promise that I've learned my lesson about acting before I think. Anyway, I'll see you-"

"Before sundown."

"Right. Are you going to stay inside?"

"Yes."

"Do you want anything?"

He shakes his head.

"I might drop by the bookstore and pick up a dictionary, but that's probably it."

"Sounds good."

Naruto walks into the bathroom and looks down at the blue tiled floor, meeting the glazed eyes of his clone.

"How are you holding up?"

"Boooooored."

"Keep reading. I'm going out."

He groans, watching as Boss retrieves a damp umbrella from above the sink and walks out.

After exiting the inn, he seeks refuge in a slimy gap created by a dumpster and an old rusted metal fence. When he walks out, his blond hair is the only thing that remains. His blue kimono is now black, his skin pale and sickly, body soft and without attractive definition.

Naruto is extremely focused as he flows with the umbrella-carrying crowds. It's like he can feel every rain drop strike the ground and the breaths of every person around him. He stops suddenly, his senses so sharp, that he actually notices an ANBU watching over the people from one of the rooftops. Normally, he would be impossible to detect, as he's using some kind of genjutsu that lets him blend in with the rain; seeming almost invisible. The man is highly skilled, so Naruto keeps moving, not wanting to draw attention to himself. He looks straight ahead, confused by the sudden epiphany.

Naruto takes one of Haku's suggestions seriously as he wanders among the streets. He talks to people. Of course, he's acquainted himself with some of the people of Gama on the nature of trying to save their lives. And he's right when Haku says that there's something different to Kaiu. The people are in a much deeper, much subtler state of despair.

As he approaches one old woman, asking about her wares, his eyes planted on a wide variety of unusual-looking seeds, she just sort of zones out for a moment. She does apologize and begins to talk, but it is oddly striking to him. A younger man, one who sells an odd kind of corned meat; as he tries to strike up a conversation with him, he notices a similar reaction - like he's not even there. He watches as other people make their stops at various market stalls along the street, noting how they silently pick up items they want and pass them to the merchant, who silently dolls out change and receipts. Most exchanges are wordless, thoughtless, and with barely any human contact.

He takes a detour through an alley, thinking over the strange town, watching the tar-like rain smack against the cracked pavement. He suddenly stops and watches it in silence, eventually falling into a crouch as he looks at himself in the reflection of a rippling puddle of shimmery black.

Something clicks.

He can feel there's something off about it. But when he sticks his finger into the puddle, it just feels like normal water. It's cold. Also a little dirty, given its current location. But it's just water.

An idea strikes him. He looks around and stretches his focus, trying to tell if anyone is nearby, but all he can feel are some civilians passing. He guesses that it's safe, or not that risky at least, calmly reaches out with both hands.

He puts his palms just above the surface of the water and concentrates hard, igniting his chakra right along the surface of the water. After a minute, it starts to boil, warm steam heating his hands. He continues to focus, pumping more chakra into his hands, until scalding steam rises up. His hands aren't burnt too badly, the dead skin buzzing and throbbing, but the fox should heal that in short order.

When he pulls away his hands, what's left is a black ash.

There's nothing special about it. He also doesn't have a container to store it away. He knows that the ash makes the rain black, but without someone smarter than him to help, he can't move forward from his reasoning. He stands up in defeat, deciding it's something to dwell on another time. He turns away, returning to his restless wandering.

Eventually, he walks into a bookstore off one of the side streets. It's a tiny store that's dim inside, but the bell rings as he steps up and squeezes inside.

"Hello." He greets the man at the register, beige-colored wood counter beneath it, "I'd like to buy a dictionary."

The man is bald and has dopey black eyes. He nods tiredly in his seat, pointing with this thumb, "Far back." He goes back to reading a newspaper in his hand, headlines covered by a wet crease in the top.

The floor is covered in a thin orange carpet that bunches up in places. The store is lined with racks and racks of books. The blond whirls past novels and stories, finding a very, very small collection of non-fiction works. Actually, most of the section is dusty and vacant. Interested, he looks at what books are on the shelves. They're not sorted alphabetically, but all seem to cover similar topics...

The Grand History of Ame no Kuni, On the Rise of Lord Hanzou The Salamander, The Definitive Shinobi History: Wickedness in the World Around Us, The Oath to Security, How to Tell if Your Neighbor is a Spy, Why Rain Is Holy, The Secret Plans Against Ame no Kuni, How Hanzou The Salamander Averted Disaster, The Second Great Shinobi World War: Battles and their Outcomes, Ame no Kuni and The Impact of the Third Shinobi World War, Blades and Battou: Ame in the Age of the Samurai

Naruto picks up The Second Great Shinobi World War: Battles and their Outcomes and flips through its pages. Each chapter details many of the countries surrounding Ame, with the final chapter discussing Ame no Kuni itself. In each chapter, battles are listed in order of the year they occurred. Although Naruto doesn't read the book for very long, the book goes into rich detail about the combatants on all sides, listing significant shinobi that were present, as well as estimated casualties. The Second Shinobi World War was something they had discussed at the academy, but not at great length. And what they had discussed was not something he had committed much attention to.

Naruto looks around and extends his senses. He swallows, taking a deep breath. He's reluctant, but he doesn't sense anyone's eyes on him.

"Kage bunshin no jutsu." He whispers, creating two clones. The clones quickly henge into random civilians he's seen.

"Read this." He shoves the book into the clones hands, "Quickly. If someone asks who you are, excuse yourself and disperse."

The second clone looks bewildered, "Are we really going to do this? This isn't a library."

"Just stay hidden. I didn't bring enough money to buy this stuff - besides, I can't carry these thick books, they'll get all wet."

The other clone sighs as Naruto shoves a book into its hands, How Hanzou The Salamander Averted Disaster. He tells the clone quietly, "If this book doesn't have much on Hanzou, try another one. I want to know everything on that guy you can find out until this shop closes."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm you, you know? Sheesh."

Naruto sighs and walks away, moving quickly through the bookstore until he reaches far back into the corner. There's a small selection of dictionaries. Some are for seal script, while others are for esoteric or common words. Naruto picks up a pocket dictionary and quickly moves through the store, plopping the thing on the counter before the cashier.

Unfortunately, the man is twisted sideways, his hands slowly going through the motions of taking the bill Naruto has placed on the table. He makes change and Naruto snatches the book, putting it into a small pocket in his kimono, holding back a sigh as the man chatters with a lanky asshole, his face like a wart, a cigarette between two lips.

"So, did you hear about the fire last night?" the smoker asks, spewing out black, starry fumes, "Woke me up somethin' terrible with the shouting."

"Yeah." The cash register rings and makes a rolling mechanical sound, as he shows the man the newspaper's front page, the headlines reading Large Fire Started by Tanigakure, "Was where that circus set up. Apparently they were no normal circus."

"You swing by that place? Looked horrific. I'm not sure who got out but..."

He chuckles, "Nah, I know better than to steer clear of a site like that. I imagine it looked like that hospital bombing a few months ago, right? Say, you think... Was it them...?"

"Likely. Better to not talk about it."

"No shit."

When the cashier turns around to give the kid his change, he's nowhere to be seen.

"He took off? Oh well. Guess this is on the house then."

---

He runs. He doesn't care if anyone thinks it's suspicious. He doesn't care if anyone follows him. He doesn't care what Haku thinks. He doesn't care if he's letting his emotions get to him. He's just moving, his legs pushing forward. His arms reach out, shoving people out-of-the-way as he moves against the flow of traffic, his umbrella collapsing and bending at the rush of wind surging against him. A strong wind is blowing now, pushing directly against him. The black gale of cold wet wind is telling him to stop. Telling him to calm down. But he can't. His heart is pounding, the shrieking wind is in his ears and he can't. The world is just a blur under his feet as he flies. The rain is smacking the ground like a drum, the sound of his frantic mind telling him to run.

He swerves, pivoting on his heel as he makes a sharp turn, nearly falling over. He skids across the wet ground and keeps running down the narrowing road, climbing uphill.

And then he stops.

He stops dead in his tracks.

There is a single man. He's dressed in a turquoise pinstripe tunic, black wetsuit pants clenching from his waist to his ankles. On his head is an umbrella, a large green lamp-shade shaped hat that diverts drizzle off his body and onto the ground. There's a metallic plate fastened into the umbrella, a white and black band of the Salamander on his right arm.

Behind him is a vacant lot. The wooden fence that once stood is gone. The sullen grass that once grew in places is burned away. The lot is simply filled with blasted ash and debris. A few metal structures remain, like the foundations of certain tents and stands, but in the distance, Naruto can see nothing was left untouched by a great, fast-burning blaze.

Naruto walks up to the shinobi of Amegakure. The man stares blankly ahead, not even acknowledging his presence. The umbrella-hat hides his face from the eyes down, until Naruto is just an arm's length away.

The man's ugly grayish chin moves as he speaks, "You have ten seconds to turn around and leave. This lot is off-limits to civilians."

Naruto's eyes are closed. Upon hearing those words, he looks down. His heart is still in his chest.

"What happened here?"

He doesn't reply.

"Five seconds." The man says, but Naruto just hears the smacking droplets.

"Where did you take them?"

"Three."

He isn't going to tell them, it seems.

"Two."

Was it because of him? Had they followed him to the circus? Maybe they had been with Akatsuki all along and Hanzou was now cracking down on them? Or maybe it was all a coincidence. He has no clue where to begin searching. He can't feel a soul there - the rain touches the ashes in the lot behind the man, but Naruto can't feel anyone there. Not a thing.

He should calm himself. It would be stupid of him to go back on his word. Hadn't he promised Haku? Reign it in. Just walk away. Push it deep down and go to Haku. He'll know what to do. He always does. Push it deep. That's what shinobi do. Isn't that a rule? Shinobi don't have emotions.

"One."

Naruto turns around and walks away.

Step. Drip.

"Hey Iruka-sensei, do you have time after class? I want to learn about that jutsu you showed us in class today!"

"I'm sorry Naruto. Maybe if you do better on your history test tomorrow?"

Step. Drip.

"Hey, jiji. Who's that?"

"That's the Fourth Hokage, Naruto-kun."

Step. Drip. Drip.

"Hey, old man. Could you tell me about my parents?"

"I'm sorry, but you were born on the day of the Kyuubi attack. Nobody knows who your parents are. They found you in the hospital, alone."

"Good." The man says, "That was wise, kid. You don't need to know about anything."

Drip. Drip. Drip.

A head lifts up and twists around, a pair of feet still planted forward.

Non-looking eyes are red and slitted like real eyes.

An umbrella drops to the ground with a clatter.

The gray-faced shinobi goes stiff as a board, his body trembles, staring into molten eyes that are running with the tears of the black rain that dribbles down his forehead and into the corners of his eyes.

And from the ground, hands of wispy black rain emerge. Blond hair with sickly white skin, flowing black kimonos in the wind, they morph from the pelting of rain, growing in size, until the narrow path is full of red-eyed demons. Some of their bodies wave and undulate with their bending size, making the man's stomach lurch. While others, so perfect in their replication, seem too real to not be.

They begin to march forward.

A shriek fills the cold air.

A hand snaps out, icy wet fingers clench tight around a neck. A hand reaches for a kunai buried in tight clothes, but the hand constricts, crushing cartilage. Bone pops and cracks. A quaking hand drops a damp black kunai which hits the ground.

"You have three seconds." A voice thick with a vile harmony cracks, "To tell me where you took them."

The demonic mist servants continue to coalesce out of the ground. They shuffle forward, their bodies hunched over, rhythmic eyes a searing crimson.

"Three." Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. He's done this. He did this. She is in danger because of him. You need to find her. She's the only one. She could be the family. You need to find her, you need to find her, you need to find her, you need to find her. You need to kill for her.

He lifts the man off the ground, who struggles and writhes with his body's screams, his dumb numb hands pulling at the steel thumb and rigid fingers around his throat.

"I-I don't know! I swear! I swear I have no idea! I'm just a guard- I'm not even with the guys who did this!" Lies. Just lies. Tear out his throat. Just like last time. Open your mouth. Wide. Wider. Bite in. Drink his blood. Take off the mask. Show him. Show him who you really are.

"Two." Shadowy hands reach out and grab the man's wrists and ankles and murders of crows descend from the sky in the dozens. Caw. Caw.

The man chokes out a sobbing plea, "I swear! I swear! I don't know anything."

He feels the black rain on his shoulders, it moves through his feathery hair like it might the ragged peaks of a mountain, sliding down the slope of his nose and down the valleys of his eyes, flowing around the corners of his cheeks, along the coarse ribs of his deep whisker-scars.

Feet touch the ground gently. The demonic illusions are now facing the other way. With their backs retreating into the main street in the distance, they slowly vanish from sight. The circling birds are gone too.

"I believe you." The voice is calmer now, but his eyes are still an unholy scarlet.

The man just stares into those eyes, "W-What are you? What do you want?"

"You know nothing." He whispers, "So, you don't need to know."

And then he turns around and walks away, leaving the man so shaken he doesn't move for another hour, struggling to stay calm as he breathes heavily, the front of his neck caved in, listening to the sound of the rain.

---

"Umino-san. Welcome. What brings you to me at this hour?"

The room is composed of shiny red planks of wood. Each are lined perfectly straight and flat against each other. The surface of the floor is glossy, reflecting the flickering light of the paper lanterns mounted high on the walls.

In the strictest terms, it's a dojo. The word dojo, however, means something specific. Do is the way; the path. And not any particular kind of path, but the sublime one. Mysterious in its subtleties, to walk the do is to find truth and balance in harmony. Jo, is place. But not any place. Jo is a moment. A moment in time and place. Thus, a proper dojo can be any place and moment where one finds his way. Traditionally, and in Sarutobi Hiruzen's place, his dojo is one that is simple, hard, smooth, and quiet.

The room is nearly; nearly free of distract. The flames dance in the white paper lanterns. Each floorboard moves as one as the floor bends and sways to those who walk upon it. On the wall there are four mounted weapons. A fine-pointed spear, a long curving sword, a heavy but flexible chain, and a slender staff.

There are no windows. Only a single sliding door. Umino Iruka stands in it, completely still.

"H-Hokage-sama, what- what is this?"

On the beautiful red floor is a sigil drawn in blood. Seal script makes up a five pointed star, a young boy sitting in it, planted with his feet underneath him. His arms, hands, chest, and back are cut up badly in places. Some of the injuries on his back still trickle with blood, while others are held clamped shut by the boy's stiff hands. Short spiky hair is sweaty and matted, slight youthful muscles heave and clench randomly with fatigue.

Drawn upon the boy's left forearm is an incredible seal made entirely of blood. Six rings surround monkey standing in a martial stance, holding a spear and a chain.

"Please, sit down Umini-san, we are nearly done."

Sarutobi is clad in the simplest of garments, a pure white gi. It does well to hide his old wrinkled skin, the garment billowing loosely over his features. He sits cross-legged before his grandson, his fingers finishing the last touches of a bloody seal.

Iruka watches in awe as the Sandaime stands and walks away. He makes a single seal and Konohamaru screams, his voice high and rough. The hand that had been clutching a throbbing injury on his upper arm slides down hurriedly. A palm with dried blood all over it clutches the seal on his arm, which burns into his skin painfully. It lasts only a moment though, the bodily ink going from crimson to a deep black. The seal around his body crawls up his body, words and symbols sliding along his bloodied skin, all converging on the tattoo forming underneath his palm.

When it ends, the boy passes out, slumping forward. Before Iruka can even make a sound, a young woman with dark brown hair rushes in. She knees down and rolls Konohamaru over, her hands turn a bright viridian as she nurses him.

Hiruzen smiles at the panting child before his gaze. But he lifts it up, looking one of the experienced academy teachers in the eye, "It looks harsh. And it is. But that is how you are accepted as a summoner of The Monkey King and his tribe."

Iruka's small dark eyes stare kindly at his student, but his look hardens as he meets his grandfather's, "I suppose you wouldn't do this unless you're allowing him to become a genin."

"I allow him, but he has earned it." He moves forward, walking past the woman who closes reduces the swelling in the young shinobi's arms, "News travels fast I see?" he chuckles, "I imagine Ebisu-san or Kurenai-san told you about this?"

Iruka's shoulders drop in weary, "Not any of the details. Just that... Hokage-sama, if I may be frank-"

"You may."

"-are you out of your mind?" he shakes his head rapidly, backpedaling, "I mean, with all due respect- this is- sorry, that was uncalled for, but while yes, Konohamaru has been trying very hard in my class lately, I was happy to tell you all about that a week ago, but I would have lied if I had known you would [i]do this[/i] as a result."

"This was inevitable, I think." The old man says, glancing over his shoulder, "My grandson has made a hard choice. In a way, I am sending him to war."

"War. I should have known. Another one already? With who?"

"I cannot speak of it yet. And it is not truly a war, not of the kind you have experienced, Umino-san. Not even of the kind I experienced growing up."

"Why?"

"Why what? Why did he choose to go?"

"No. Why did you give him the choice? He's- he's too young."

"He is too young. He is too innocent. No one is ever ready for war, of course. But to send a child is cruel. But in some ways, cruelty is all its own a great kindness." He walks to the wall and stands beside Iruka, smiling as Konohamaru twitches and groans, rapidly coming to. The woman stands and smiles gently, "He will make a full and rapid recovery, though he should rest deeply tomorrow."

"Thank you for your help, Yashigani-san."

She bows and walks out hurriedly.

"What did you give him? I don't understand. Does your summoning contract require a seal?"

"No, it does not. Konohamaru endured a trial from Momohime, one of the daughters of Enma. Since he passed, he was allowed to sign the contract. I would have concluded it there, but Konohamaru does not have the chakra to properly summon warriors of the tribe. That seal will passively collect small amounts of chakra from his body and store it for later use. He'll be able to summon help roughly every two to five days, depending upon his daily physical exertion."

"He doesn't have the chakra? Isn't that evidence enough that he shouldn't go?"

"He will grow strong. That is what war does." Hiruzen's voice is low and quiet, but it carries throughout the room like a strong wind.

"You still haven't answered my question."

He nods, "It is a fair question. I admit, there are safer alternatives. There are also alternatives that will not put young Konohamaru-kun in harm's way. There isn't a price that must be paid here; no one needs to do anything. If he wanted to, even at this point, I would allow him to back out if he asked for it."

"Back out? You mean, this mission you're giving him. Why must he go? Why are you suddenly making him a genin, Hokage-sama?"

"He is not going alone, if that's what you're worried about. He will have much support. And many budding friends to lean on."

"There are a few reasons. The first, but not most important, is that all the other alternatives will either require we wait until an opportunity strikes us, we get lucky, that my wayward student succeeds, or, that we actually go to war. I will not wait, not when Naruto is at risk. I will not depend upon luck, for fate has already taken him from us. Although Jiraiya may succeed, by the time he does or does not, I will still be in a position to call off the mission. Finally, I am certain war will result in disaster far worse than the mission I am ordering."

"So... Naruto is involved." Iruka nods, his face softening slightly in that admission.

They stop talking to watch as Konohamaru, who is only clad in short brown shorts, stands. His body shimmers with sweat, but he seems to be fine. He walks awkwardly toward his grandfather, his eyes lifted up.

Those old lips curl into a sorrowful smile, "How are you feeling?" he whispers.

"Like crap."

He laughs, "Well put. You do look like crap." He chuckles, "Go to your room and lie down, one of the servants will give you some towels to wipe yourself down with, but you'll need your rest for a while. That seal will need to adjust to your body tonight."

"Kay." He starts to walk away, stopping only to glance at Iruka, a dead glaze on his smiling face, "Oh, hey sensei. Guess what, I made ge-" He doesn't finish his sentence as he passes out where he's standing. Thankfully, Iruka is quick to react and catches him.

"He'll be fine." Hiruzen says, meeting the chuunin's worried gaze, "Could you take him to his room? One of the servants will show you the way. I need to clean up." He upturns one of his bloody palms for Iruka.

The man sighs, "Fine, but, we're discussing this tomorrow. I'm not convinced. This is madness, Hokage-sama."

A laugh, "I admit it does seem that way, even to me. But... well. That's the nature of my request. You see, the second, the most important reason for this mission - why Konohamaru is going - it's to show that we love him."

---

AN: So, I was tempted to try to shoe-horn Kidoumaru into the mix, I think he'd fit actually. He /does/ have six arms, which /could/ tie him directly to being a descendant of The Sage, right? At least, in my head, it's a fun little allusion, making him less of a spider-ninja and more of a sage-buddha-warrior. For now, his bloodline is one that comes from Ame, even if his dark skin better pins him with Kumo. I intend for the Sound Four to recur a few times through the story, but I can't say they'll be a permanent fixture.

Figaro/Chere references come from Final Fantasy VI. In the Narutoverse, at least according to my story, arcades exist (and I guess Final Fantasy exists as an arcade game; go figure? I couldn't think of a better reference that didn't sound absolutely terrible). Computers are programmed in assembly. Computers are very rare. The technology is not well understood. Electrons and the like poorly understood, though there are some experts in Kumo who are authorities on the subject.

Ebisu and Kakashi have an interesting relationship in this story. You might go, "Huh?" But do consider they graduated from the same class (along with Iruka), or at least, had classes together in the academy. Ebisu also "owed" Kakashi a favor, which is how he got roped into training Naruto during the chuunin exams. Makes sense they have some kind of a history together. I've never seen anyone do anything interesting with Ebisu though, which is really too bad. He couldn't be training Konohamaru for no reason, right? He must be good at something!

This chapter was meant to stretch on for a little longer, but ultimately, I couldn't fit the rest. I'm at 45k words right now, but the next scene is over 5k words in length, so I'm forced to cut it for the next chapter due to ff chapter size constraints.

Anyway, I've gotten some good feedback from DLP about this chapter. I admit some elements of this story might be a little hard to swallow completely. I can only say that I'll try my best to improve upon them in the future.